The MLB Trade Deadline is upon us once again which means Cubs fans everywhere are trying to figure out what Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs front office are going to do with the future of this team. The last two trade deadlines have been very depressing to say the least on the Northside, losing fan favorites in both 2021 and 2022 such as Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and many other key players to this franchise. However, there is a feeling of uncertainty in this year’s go around. Many fans believe that the team’s current state of success and production might convince this front office to think twice about selling for more double and triple-A-level prospects. The question going around Wrigley Field right now isn’t are we going to trade away the core but more so do we really need to trade them away with all of the key pieces that have been climbing the ranks in the farm system as of late.

In the 2020 season, the Chicago Cubs farm system ranked 23rd in the league according to MLB.com and dropped even lower after current star 2nd baseman Nico Hoerner was brought to the big leagues. The lackluster pipeline included a Top 10 list of Nico Hoerner, Brailyn Marquez, Brennen Davis, Miguel Amaya, Cole Roederer, Adbert Alzolay, Kohl Franklin, Ryan Jensen, Chase Strump and Christopher Morel. The list itself is pretty impressive considering that 5 of those 10 have played for the big leagues and 4 are currently key pieces to the teams’ success (Nico, Adbert, Morel, Amaya ) but the rest of the pipeline was very bleak. Throughout the last three years, GM Jed Hoyer has made several key deals that have reshaped the farm as a whole and boosted the Cubs into having arguably a Top 3 farm system. Currently, as it sits the Cubs Top 10 prospects are Pete Crow-Armstrong (Top 7 prospect in all of baseball), Cade Horton, Ben Brown, Kevin Alcantara, Jordan Wicks, Matt Mervis, Brennen Davis, Jackson Ferris, Cristian Hernandez and Alexander Canario.

A huge part that’s going to play a role in this year’s deadline is understanding that the team’s future is brighter than ever before, even going back to 2013-2014 when notable stars such as Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and other 2016 World Series Champions were just stepping on the scene. But at what point do you stop having a firesale for prospects every August and begin to put key pieces around a young, up-and-coming team full of twenty-year-olds. What made the last core so successful were key additions to the team such as Jon Lester, Ben Zobrist, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta, David Ross and many other proven MLB-ready players who could mentor and play alongside the beloved core. Currently, the team has expressed that importance by bringing in World Series champion and gold glove winner Dansby Swanson on a five-year deal, while also extending core players such as Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ. But what about the former MVP who is currently one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball in Cody Bellinger or the 2023 All-Star in Marcus Stroman? Both have expressed the importance of wanting to remain with the organization and that they love the city of Chicago more than anything in the world, however, Jed Hoyer has yet to even speak with either of them about a possible extension in the near future.

Cody Bellinger throughout the 2023 season is batting .312 through 70 games with a .296 average against RHPs and an astounding .344 average against LHPs. With 15 home runs or “Belli Bombs” on the year and 46 RBIs Bellinger is becoming a fan favorite and a household name as he’s returning to his 2019 MVP form. His co-star of the season Marcus Stroman has been in the NL CY Young conversation all season as well, entering July with a 2.47 ERA the 2023 All-Star has been one of the most electrifying pitchers in all of baseball. However, after a rocky July posting a 3.51 era he has come back down to earth a bit since the All Star Break. Regardless, these two individuals have been key pieces to why the Cubs are still in the race to not only win the NL Central but make the playoffs as well. The understanding at Wrigley right now for Cubs fans everywhere is it would make complete sense to sell high on guys like Julian Merryweather, Michael Fulmer, Anthony Kay, Drew Smyly and even giving The Professor himself Kyle Hendricks an opportunity to compete elsewhere.

But as far as giving up on key members of this team who are not only huge contributors to the organization but express every single day how much they want to remain in Cubbie blue, it would be very irresponsible for this organization that is already so highly regarded in terms of its bright future and farm system to get rid of a MVP and all-star pitcher that can mentor the young guns and also still compete at a high level for years to come.