One year ago, the Cubs openly said they were approaching the trade deadline with an eye toward 2025. Well, 2025 is here, and the time to strike is now.
Chicago is looking to build a sustainable winner, but with Kyle Tucker set to hit free agency in the winter and the NL potentially more wide open than expected, Cubs fans are anticipating some aggressiveness ahead of the trade deadline.
Pitching will be front of mind for Jed Hoyer. The Cubs’ offense is in excellent shape, particularly with rookie Matt Shaw on a torrid pace since the All-Star break. With Justin Steele out for the season plus a need for veterans in the bullpen, it’s likely the pitching staff will see at least an addition or two before the July 31 deadline.
Here’s a look at the Cubs’ top trade targets, from MacKenzie Gore to Griffin Jax.
Cubs trade deadline targets
MacKenzie Gore, SP, Nationals
It would still be a bit of a surprise to see the Nationals trade Gore, who is under contract through 2027, but Washington appears to at least be listening to offers — and the Cubs are reportedly showing serious interest. Chicago has the prospects to match up with the Nationals, with Owen Caissie likely headlining any package. Gore has been prone to blowups during his time with the Nationals, but when he’s on, he’s on. An All-Star for the first time this season, Gore has a 3.27 FIP and averages 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Acquiring Gore would be a signal that the Cubs are all in on contending both this season and long-term.
Merrill Kelly, SP, Diamondbacks
Kelly is a rental who doesn’t offer nearly the same excitement as Gore would, but the results are tough to argue. The 36-year-old has a 3.22 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 22 starts this season and has kept his ERA in the low 3s in each of his past three full seasons. Kelly also has postseason experience after posting a 2.25 ERA over four starts during Arizona’s run to the World Series in 2023. If the Cubs are looking for a stable arm to serve out the rest of the season, Kelly could be the best option.
Mitch Keller, SP, Pirates
Whether the Pirates could be enticed to make a Keller trade within the division, let alone any Keller deal at all, is unknown, but the Cubs’ interest in Gore signals that Hoyer is willing to make strong offers for controllable starters. Keller doesn’t miss many bats, but he has impressive control and carries a 3.53 ERA and 3.42 FIP this season. One red flag for the Cubs might be that Keller has finished seasons much more slowly than he’s started them, which might not bode well for October.
Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins
The Cubs have been tied to Alcantara throughout the season, even as the former Cy Young Award winner has struggled mightily. After a promising seven-inning outing against the Padres got him back on track, could Alcantara be an option for a Cubs team likely to add a starter? If the Cubs can fix him, Alcantara can be a fairly cheap rotation option for 2026 and even 2027 due to a team option on his deal. The Marlins won’t feel any pressure to trade him, but the Cubs have a strong enough prospect pool to pique Miami’s interest.
Raisel Iglesias, CL, Braves
The Cubs are looking for late-inning relievers, but they don’t necessarily need someone who can step into the closer’s role immediately with Daniel Palencia getting the job done to this point. That could make Raisel Iglesias an interesting reclamation project. With 235 saves under his belt, Iglesias has enough experience in high-pressure situations to be trusted in postseason games, but he has an ERA of 5.09 on the season. In 10 seasons as a full-time reliever, however, Iglesias has posted an ERA north of 3.00 only one other time. The Braves are safely out of contention and could be willing to deal Iglesias at a mild discount after his struggles.
Jhoan Duran, CL, Twins
The Twins are not likely to trade both Duran and Griffin Jax, but the Cubs might just have enough in the tank to get Minnesota listening on Duran. The 27-year-old has bounced back from a rocky 2024 to post a 1.86 ERA and 2.38 FIP through 48 appearances this season, and the flamethrower is one of the top available relief arms, due partly to his contract running all the way through 2027. It would take a steep offer for the Twins to part with Duran, but the Cubs went all-in on a closer in 2016 and could very well do the same in 2025.
Griffin Jax, RP, Twins
Coming slightly cheaper than Duran — but still expensive — would be Griffin Jax, who posted a sparkling 2.03 ERA last season but has run into some tough luck in 2025 with an ERA of 4.00. The underlying numbers make Jax a top relief arm on the market, as he is averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings and carries a 2.07 FIP that is nearly half of his ERA. Jax has very limited experience as a closer, but the Cubs could pair him with Palencia at the back of the bullpen and enter October with a formidable tandem.
