Chicago Cubs Seek Multiple Pitching Trades Ahead July 31 Deadline

As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Chicago Cubs are actively pursuing pitching reinforcements to support their playoff push, with a particular focus on acquiring starting pitchers like Mackenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals and Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs are considering trading top prospects such as outfielder Owen Caissie, who has impressed at Triple-A, but remain cautious about jeopardizing the team's future, especially given the uncertainty surrounding star Kyle Tucker's potential free agency departure next winter. The Cubs currently lead the NL Central but have recently faced challenges, including a losing streak and strong competition from the Milwaukee Brewers, prompting President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer to seek multiple additions late in the trade window. While the Cubs need to address pitching and possibly a backup outfielder or third baseman, they are wary of overpaying for short-term rentals and prefer acquiring young, controllable talent to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term stability. Overall, the Cubs are positioned as aggressive buyers but are navigating complex trade negotiations amid high market competition and internal roster considerations.