Cubs linked to two unexpected trades that would shock baseball

The Chicago Cubs are expected by just about everyone to be buyers between now and the MLB trade deadline, and why wouldn’t they? They entered 2026 with plans to contend, and they were once sitting at 27-12 and in first place in the NL Central.

Well, since then, things have changed.

The Cubs have lost 19 of their last 25 games to fall to 33-31. They sit in fourth place in the division, but they are tied with the Cincinnati Reds in the loss column for last. The pitching has been terrible, the offense has been woefully inconsistent and Craig Counsell is making fans pull their hair out.

Of course, there is still plenty of time for Chicago to turn things around, but what if things continue going south for the North Siders? Then what? Would the Cubs seriously consider selling off some pieces rather than buying?

Brian Kelder of North Side Baseball feels it’s a possibility, going as far to name Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki as potential trade candidates.

Could the Chicago Cubs trade Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki?

Kelder thinks that in a world where the Cubs fail to re-establish themselves as contenders, Happ and Suzuki — both of whom are impending free agents — could end up getting dealt.

“The Cubs, seeing their foundation crumble and not wanting to extend older outfielders, inform Happ and Suzuki that Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara will be prioritized, and they will not get consistent playing time the rest of this season,” Kelder wrote. “The team also tells them that they have zero intention to bring them back for 2027. The two outfielders then decide to move on, play meaningful games, and hopefully increase the value of their free agency for 2027.”

The chances of this happening seem pretty slim, but if Chicago keeps losing at this rate, it may have no other choice.

While the Cubs may wish to keep one of Happ or Suzuki, they probably won’t be re-signing both of them. They can’t keep blocking Shaw and Alcantara from consistent playing time, and if Chicago feels that it can’t win as currently constructed, then what’s the point of moving forward with the two veteran outfielders?

It’s a depressing thought given where the Cubs were a month ago, but you can envision a scenario in which Jed Hoyer does decide to blow it up by Aug. 3 if things haven’t gotten any better by then.

This is why the Cubbies need to start showing signs of life … fast.

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