Jed Hoyer Has a Chance to Prove All His Haters Wrong

The Chicago Cubs have never been this good at the trade deadline with Jed Hoyer running the show. Last night the team continued to follow his conservative strategy, adding at the margins, hoping that a change of scenery will benefit their new addition in Michael Soroka. The Cubs also traded for veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge, a steady performer, but not near the level of other star bullpen arms that were dealt on the eve of the MLB trade deadline.

Cubs fans have been demanding aggressive moves from Hoyer for years. We've seen some big swings, trading for Isaac Paredes and then flipping him along with Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski five months later for Kyle Tucker. Now, Hoyer has another chance to prove all his haters wrong. What once began as a fantasy is now turning into an actual possibility?

MacKenzie Gore to Cubs gaining momentum

Hoyer's front office has already made one deal with the Washington Nationals this week, sending a pair of prospects for Soroka, but the big prize for the Cubs could be All-Star MacKenzie Gore. ESPN 1000 radio host Carmen DeFalco phrased the talks between the Cubs and Nationals as "gaining momentum" while also stating that it is no longer a pipe dream according to his sources.

Bleacher Nation's Michael Cerami, who was the first to hint at the Cubs trading for Soroka and Kittredge before anyone else Wednesday night, is also hearing that the Cubs are serious about trading for Gore.

The Nationals reportedly have been asking for Cubs rookie third baseman Matt Shaw according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. That won't happen, but it doesn't mean the Cubs will walk away from the negotiating table.

Owen Caissie, Jaxon Wiggins, Jefferson Rojas, Moises Ballesteros and Kevin Alcántara should all be available and it's on Hoyer and the front office to find a combination that convinces the Nationals to trade away their 26-year-old starter.

Gore was once a top prospect in the San Diego Padres farm system. He was part of the blockbuster Juan Soto trade between the Nationals and Padres a few years ago and despite some recent struggles Gore is very much the star pitcher the Cubs should be going after.

Ball's in your court, Jed.