On Monday, Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer spoke with media about the impending MLB Trade Deadline. Here’s what he said:
“This is not the conversation I expected to be having,” Hoyer said ahead of the Cubs’ 3-1 win over Milwaukee. “But you’ve got to react to it and make the best decisions possible.”
Hoyer then described a Deadline strategy that felt less like an all-out marketing effort and more like shifting the competition goal posts. The Cubs’ front office boss voiced sustained confidence in his Major League team’s core, as well as optimism about one of baseball’s top-rated farm systems.
According to Hoyer, pursuing a big-name rental talent makes no sense if the Cubs are unlikely to make the playoffs in 2024. He will seek for answers to strengthen the roster in the coming seasons, when Hoyer is confident Chicago will be able to contend again.
“We probably won’t do a lot of moves that only help us for this year,” Hoyer stated. “If movements benefit us in ’25 and beyond — I think we’re still incredibly well-positioned — I believe that’s where our attention will be. But I don’t think we’ll be focusing solely on helping in ’24 until circumstances shift substantially.”
At this point, I’m unsure whether the Cubs will move anyone. They still have a chance to earn a Wild Card spot. That doesn’t mean they should go out and buy next week; it’s not worth it for a wild-card position, given who else may be available, even if they go on an eight-game winning run, like they did last year at this time.
In that comment, Hoyer stated that the Cubs are “exceptionally well-positioned” for next season. You may or may not agree with that assessment, but given that Hoyer feels this way, it does not appear that they will be major sellers either.
So there is Hoyer’s conundrum. Personally, I will not make a single forecast or proposal for a trade involving a Cubs player from the 26-man roster. Mainly, I prepared this piece for you to discuss what you believe will happen as the deadline approaches, which is in a little more than a week.
There will be plenty of rumours between now and 5 p.m. CT next Tuesday, July 30. The most of them will be gibberish. Some of them might be true. If the Cubs do make a trade or two, I believe it will be something that has not been previously rumoured.
So — take at it; the floor is yours.
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