Cubs vs. White Sox Series Could Be Final Games in Chicago for These Players

The MLB trade deadline is on Aug. 1, and for Chicago baseball fans this week's series between the Cubs and White Sox could be the final games for a handful of players on each respective team.

Let's begin with the Cubs. At 48-51, Jed Hoyer appears to be waiting as long as he can before deciding what direction he's going to lead the front office at the trade deadline. The Cubs are in third place in the NL Central, seven games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. Meanwhile, the National League Wild Card race is becoming much closer than it was as the Cubs go into Tuesday night's game only four games back in the loss column.

There is also a scenario in which the Cubs soft sell and soft buy at the trade deadline. Regardless, the next two scheduled starting pitchers could be making their last appearances in a Cubs uniform this week.

Kyle Hendricks, 33, has a club option worth $16 million for the 2024 season. He's come back from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for nearly a year and the veteran righty has pitched to good results. Hendricks has a 3.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 11 starts this season. He's struck out 42 and walked 10 in 64 innings.

Hendricks is the final player from the 2016 World Series Cubs team still on the roster, but he knows his time in Chicago could be close to ending.

Via the Chicago Tribune.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business. Decisions have to be made to make this team better in the long run and get back to winning and whatever that entails, that’s what he’s going to do.”

On Wednesday night, right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman is starting for the Cubs and he's another possible trade candidate. The 32-year-old has an opt-out in his contract after the 2023 season and with a good year so far Stroman is expected to go into free agency. Having already accepted a qualifying offer from the New York Mets, the Cubs do not have the ability to extend him a qualifying offer of their own following the season.

Stroman, who was an NL All-Star this year, has a 3.09 ERA in 122.1 innings through 21 starts.

Now, while Cody Bellinger's name has also been tossed around in trade speculation during the past couple of weeks, there is also talk of the Cubs ultimately deciding to keep the left-handed hitter, who has been the best player in MLB in July.

As for the White Sox, the picture is much clearer. It's not a matter of if, but when and not who, but how many players will be dealt in the next week.

Wednesday's scheduled starter for the White Sox is 36-year-old Lance Lynn. The veteran righty has had a rough season, but that has not stopped teams from both leagues to engage in trade talks with the White Sox for his services. According to various reports, the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds have all had some level of interest in acquiring Lynn.

The latest news surrounding Lynn came from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, who reported that the White Sox pitcher would waive his limited no-trade clause if there was a deal completed with a team in contention for a playoff run. According to Rosenthal, Lynn has 10 teams on his no-trade list.

The White Sox also have a few relief pitchers who could be traded in the next couple of days.

The right-handed pitching trio of Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Kelly and Keynan Middleton are all going to be free agents following the 2023 season. Middleton is having his best season in the majors since his abbreviated run of success with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and 2019. So far this year, Middleton has recorded a 3.41 ERA, striking out 44 batters in 34.1 innings.

Lopez had a terrible start to the season, when he was trying to fill in as the closer for the White Sox, but he's looked much better since May. In his last 29 appearances, Lopez has posted a 2.43 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, holding opponents to a .171 batting average, while striking out 33 batters in 29.2 innings.

Kelly returned to the White Sox this past weekend after being on the injured list with a biceps issue. The 35-year-old has playoff experience with the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. While his overall numbers aren't great in 2023, Kelly has a 4.66 ERA in 30 games, he was shutting down teams prior to his recent injury.

In May and June, Kelly had a combined 2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings, striking out 25 hitters during that stretch.

Meanwhile, right-handed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito is the team's biggest trade chip and the expectation is that he will be dealt away by next Tuesday. Giolito, who has a 3.79 ERA in 21 starts this year, is next scheduled to pitch on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians at home. That may end up being Giolito's last appearance with the White Sox.