The Chicago Cubs are currently atop the NL Central standings, but we've known for weeks that they're seeking additional help for the bullpen and starting rotation. Depending on the type of trade target that the front office decides to focus on fans should be prepared to see at least one of their favorite Cubs prospects get traded soon if the team follows through on making a big splash before the trade deadline.
At this point the only young players who appear to be safe from getting dealt are already beginning to establish themselves on the big-league roster. Cade Horton has filled in nicely, joining the rotation for the injured Shōta Imanaga, while Matt Shaw has taken the reins over at third base following his call up in mid-May.
What about all the other top prospects that you've either read about or seen highlights of during the past few years? Are any of them safe, even the top-100 prospects?
Not according to Cubs beat reporter Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. In a recent mailbag episode of North Side Territory, the Cubs podcast for The Athletic, Sharma discussed how there are no untouchables in the Cubs minor league system. Sharma's co-host and fellow Cubs reporter Patrick Mooney agreed.
When responding to a question regarding what prospects could be traded before the end of July to address the Cubs' needs, Sharma didn't name anyone specifically, but he made one point very clear: there are no untouchables.
Via North Side Territory.
"I'll say this, there are no untouchable prospects. If you're on the major league roster, they're likely not going to move you unless it's some insane deal that we can't wrap our heads around right now. So, I'd say there are no untouchable prospects is how I'd do that."
Sharma added that the Cubs should be most aggressive in starting pitching department, aiming at high-end talent, a pitcher who can be an ace for the team down the stretch. He mentioned Sandy Alcántara and Zac Gallen as potential targets.
Mooney followed suit and was blunt on his assertion of what could get a big trade done for the Cubs this summer if they do go big-game hunting on the trade market.
"Which prospects go? I mean, it's almost to me like a who cares at this point. You have Kyle Tucker for one year. You have, if not the best team in the National League, one of the best. You gotta respect the Dodgers, Phillies and Mets are really good teams. Other teams are going to take a step forward that we're not even thinking of at this moment, but these opportunities are rare. You have a front office in a lame-duck situation and it's not like the Cubs have a 2014 Kris Bryant waiting in their farm system. There are lots of nice players. There's depth, there's pieces, there could be some every-day guys there, but I don't know how many of those guys are going to knock out the group that you currently have playing at Wrigley Field. The pitching prospects, they're gonna get injured. If I was the Cubs I would just cash those in and get help right now and worry about the rest later."
ESPN's prospects expert Kiley McDaniel updated the top-10 prospects for all 30 MLB teams. Here are the 10 best prospects the Cubs currently have to offer according to McDaniel's intel.
- Matt Shaw
- Moises Ballesteros
- Cade Horton
- Kevin Alcántara
- Jefferson Rojas
- Owen Caissie
- Jaxon Wiggins
- Cristian Hernandez
- Pedro Ramirez
- Jonathan Long
Again, out of those 10 players it's safe to assume that Shaw and Horton aren't going anywhere this summer. The other guys, though? Depending on who your favorite or favorites have become during the course of the past two or three years, you might a bit heartbroken in July.
We've seen Jed Hoyer not afraid to trade away rising prospects in the past to upgrade the team. He traded two young minor leaguers heading into the 2024 season for Michael Busch and so far I'd say both the Cubs and Dodgers are happy with that deal as Los Angeles added Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris to its farm system. Busch is currently playing at an All-Star level, manning first base with the Cubs.
Sometimes the trades haven't worked. In 2023, the Cubs needed a corner infielder to provide a boost on offense and the Cubs traded a talented young lefty in DJ Herz to the Nationals for Jeimer Candelario. Herz was a strikeout machine in 19 starts during his rookie season in 2024, but had to undergo Tommy John surgery back in April. As for Candelario, he was fine, but fizzled out in September as the Cubs fell short of a Wild Card spot.
Hoyer traded a popular player in Christopher Morel last summer to the Rays for Isaac Paredes and then five months later flipped Paredes along with another rising prospect Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski for Kyle Tucker.
You're kind of just counting down the days before you get that notification from Jeff Passan that involves the Cubs. They need to make a big move and potentially a few more to take the 2025 Cubs to the next level. We know it. Jed Hoyer knows it and I'm sure those prospect at Triple-A have it in the back of their mind, too.
