AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

The Rundown: Wild Trade Suggestions, Boyd Extends Scoreless Streak in Win Over Royals, Tigers and Dodgers Slumping

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 23, 2025

“All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic cars… they’re all laughing at me now.” – The Show Must Go On by Three Dog Night

There is no greater form of puerile and lazy entertainment than blogging about who is going to get traded where, and for whom. I’ll mock myself later for what is about to follow, but I’m going to find new homes for some of the 12 best players reportedly on the market. I’m going to exclude Chris Sale and Justin Verlander because most think they’re unavailable, though I believe they will be moved. Sandy Alcántara and Ke’Bryan Hayes are not listed because they’re just not good enough.

One more thing, if I may. I’ve not done a deep dive into the farm systems of all 30 MLB teams, so take my suggestions as tongue-in-cheek: They should be used to encourage discussion and nothing more. I’d fare better putting all the names in two fish bowls and blindly drawing.

  1. Eugenio Suárez – The third baseman is a great fit for the Cubs, but the Diamondbacks won’t get the haul most are expecting. That said, a package of Ben Brown, who fully understands he might be traded, Jaxon Wiggins, and Jonathon Long gets it done. That’s a lot to pay for a rental, but Suárez would give Chicago the toughest lineup in baseball. He’ll also bring that 2019 post-deadline Nick Castellanos-like energy to the North Side.
  2. Joe Ryan – His contract is far too favorable for the Twins to trade right now, and if Minnesota is dead set on moving him, he’ll fetch a greater return at the Winter Meetings. He might be a fit for the Cubs then, but the bidding will be astronomical.
  3. Merrill Kelly – I can’t see Kelly going anywhere but the Bronx, and he’ll thrive there. Arizona is going to want Spencer Jones, but that’s not happening. The Yankees are loaded with pitching prospects, however, and could build a package around Carlos Lagrange or Ben Hess depending on the deal. New York may want Suárez and Shelby Miller, too, which might put Jones in play.
  4. Seth Lugo – The Blue Jays are flying under the radar in the stacked AL East, and Lugo seems like a perfect fit for Toronto. Single-A stud Johnny King seems to be a fair return. He’s only 18, and the Royals love long-term upside prospects.
  5. Taj Bradley – The Rays will hold onto Bradley unless the Dodgers call about Pete Fairbanks. A multi-player deal that will floor analysts and anger most baseball fans outside of Los Angeles will surely ensue.
  6. Kris Bubic – I wanted to pick the Brewers here, but Bubic is a free agent after the 2026 season, just like Freddy Peralta. That puts the 27-year-old lefty squarely in Chicago’s and Boston’s wheelhouse. The Red Sox will outbid the Cubs, though I have no idea who Craig Breslow is willing to trade. If I’m right, this has all the earmarks of a last-minute, three-team negotiation.
  7. Edward Cabrera – If the Yankees don’t get Kelly, they’ll pivot to Cabrera. The Cubs and Marlins will negotiate toward a deal, but I don’t see a comfortable fit for Jed Hoyer. The 27-year-old is under control through 2028, though he’s yet to exceed 100 innings in one season.
  8. Mitch Keller – Milwaukee is likely to stand pat or even sell, but Keller has the talent and contract the Brewers will be seeking, and they have the farm system to appease the Pirates.
  9. Jarren Duran – If it’s July, the Phillies must need an outfielder. The Red Sox will get the prospects for Duran that give them the edge over the Cubs in a deal for Bubic. A three-team deal involving the Royals is entirely possible.
  10. Ryan McMahon – No team turns duds into studs like the Brewers, and nobody fits that mold better than McMahon. He’ll love Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Who doesn’t?
  11. Ryan Helsley – Call me crazy, but I believe the Mets are a lights-out reliever shy of winning the NL East. It kills me to say that the Cardinals will aid that pursuit because I dislike each team equally. New York has a number of young infielders that will interest St. Louis. Helsley and Edwin Díaz will lock down the 8th and 9th innings for the Metropolitans.
  12. Jhoan Durán – He’s 25, earns less than $5 million, and is under team control through 2027, so I don’t see why the Twins would trade him unless the return is astronomical.

Honorable Mention: Sean Newcomb – Hoyer is going to acquire a reliever none of us saw coming, so I choose Newcomb because everyone else thinks the A’s will trade Mason Miller. The Cubs will start August with Suarez and Newcomb, and punt on a rental starter, unless they can get Verlander for next to nothing. I fear one nightmare scenario which involves the Brewers acquiring Sale, but I’d rather not write about that.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

Pete Crow-Armstrong would have been safe at third if he had two good wheels. He didn’t have his usual burst going from second to third base. He did give one kid the lemonade sale of a lifetime before Tuesday’s game, however.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

The Tigers have lost eight of nine and are 14-17 since June 14. Detroit still holds a nine-game lead over the Guardians in the AL Central.

The Dodgers are also slumping. They’ve dropped seven of their last 10 games, including six straight to the Brewers.

Los Angeles placed reliever Tanner Scott (elbow inflammation) on the 15-day IL before yesterday’s game.

At least 26 MLB players have been named in trade rumors since the All-Star Game.

Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez is a legitimate Cy Young candidate after last night’s dominating performance.

Extra Innings

Owen Caissie isn’t going anywhere except to (eventually) Chicago’s North Side. Too bad he can’t play third base.

They Said It

  • “Obviously, things can change, but right now, [Brown’s] going to pitch in bulk or length. There’s not a new pitch. There’s nothing new happening there. Ben, he’s just got to execute better. It’s as simple as that.” – Counsell
  • “I want to win the World Series. And I still believe my best baseball’s ahead of me.” – Boyd

Mama, I’m Coming Home

We lost Ozzy Osbourne yesterday. I would have featured him in today’s post, but social media is overflowing with tributes, accolades, and videos. I’ll give you my top five Ozzy/Black Sabbath songs instead.

  1. Paranoid
  2. Crazy Train
  3. N.I.B.
  4. War Pigs
  5. Megalomania

Wednesday Walk-Up Song

Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the summer for most of the United States. Stay hydrated, my friends.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterJuly 23, 2025
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