Cubs trade rumors: MacKenzie Gore, Merrill Kelly among 7 best options for Chicago at 2025 deadline
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Katie Ledecky tops Pallister, McIntosh in swim worlds epic; Gretchen Walsh adds gold
In what may have been the best race of her career, Katie Ledecky won an 800m freestyle that lived up to the hype, becoming the first swimmer to win a seventh world title in one event. Ledecky swam 8:05.62 to beat Australian Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and Canadian Summer McIntosh (8:07.29) in a showdown among the three fastest women in history in the event. Ledecky rallied from second place at 700 meters -- just .14 behind McIntosh -- then held off the charging Pallister in a championship record time. It's her 23 world title (second to Michael Phelps' 26) and 30th world medal (second to Phelps' 33). Ledecky is now 11-0 in global finals in the 800m free, her trademark event, since her 2012 Olympic breakout at age 15. SWIMMING WORLDS: Results | Broadcast Schedule Gretchen Walsh fills U.S. women's swim worlds gold set Earlier Saturday, American Gretchen Walsh added the 50m fly title to her 100m fly victory from last Monday. She swam 24.83 seconds, distancing silver medalist Alexandria Perkins by 48 hundredths — greater than the margin separating Perkins from last place in the race. Of the 42 women's and men's events on the world championships program, the women's 50m fly was the only one the U.S. had never won. The U.S. has won at least one medal in all 16 women's events held so far at these worlds. There are four women's finals left on Sunday. Walsh was one of the majority of U.S. swim team members affected to varying degrees by acute gastroenteritis, or a stomach bug, leading into worlds. "It felt like myself again in the water," she said Saturday. She said Monday that her body had felt "fragile." She has one individual event left at these worlds: the 50m free. She owns the world's top time this year. For Gretchen Walsh, a journey to a possible gold rush at World Swimming Championships Gretchen Walsh has never won an individual global title in a long-course pool. She could leave worlds with four of them. Nick Zaccardi, Australian Kaylee McKeown and American Regan Smith went one-two in the 200m backstroke, just as they did in all three backstrokes at the 2023 Worlds, both backstrokes at the 2024 Olympics and in the 100m back earlier at these worlds. American Claire Curzan, who swept the backstrokes at the 2024 Worlds in the absence of McKeown and Smith, took bronze Saturday. Both U.S. entries won a medal in all three women's backstroke events. McKeown clocked 2:03.33, the third-fastest time in history. McKeown and Smith combine to own 22 of the top 23 times in history. Frenchman Maxime Grousset took the men's 100m fly in 49.62, the third-fastest time in history behind Caeleb Dressel's top two. Australian Cameron McEvoy and Brit Ben Proud went one-two in the men's 50m free, repeating their finishes from the Olympics. American Jack Alexy added bronze to his 100m free silver. Inside Summer McIntosh's big change that led to three world records Summer McIntosh crossed an ocean and took up a new sport that helped her have one of the best swim meets in history. Nick Zaccardi,
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MLB Rumors: Mariners Got Eugenio Suarez for Discount Rate After Yankees Showed No Interest?
A new report claims the Seattle Mariners were able to get Eugenio Suarez for a reasonable rate because his trade market was far weaker than the Arizona Diamondbacks expected. Earlier this week, the Mariners made another notable splash in the trade market when they acquired the biggest bat available, All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez. The rumors around the game would have you believe he was the most pursued player this month. Well, that was not the case at all. Eugenio Suarez contract: Set to be a free agent after 2025 season According to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the market for the slugger was very weak. And the New York Yankees — a team heavily linked to Suarez — showed little interest in the two-time All-Star. 'They were stunned on how little action they got on Suarez. They wanted to move him desperately. But nobody was offering anything,' Nightengale said on 'The Foul Territory Show.' 'A few GMs have told me that at the trade deadline, you never get much for position players. Even when JD Martinez got moved to the Diamondbacks years ago, they gave up a bag of balls for the guy. 'They were very disappointed that the Yankees didn't go after him, and then the Reds went to Hayes instead of going after him. The market for [Suarez] cratered.' The 34-year-old is on pace to hit over 50 homers and well over 100 RBIs this year. Along with the acquisition of Josh Naylor a couple of weeks ago, the Mariners now have a pair of big bats to go along with MVP candidate Cal Raleigh in the second half. They are a real threat to get to the World Series in October. Eugenio Suaez stats: .248 AVG, .319 OBP, .572 SLG, .891 OPS, 36 HR, 87 RBI, 66 R Suarez is a rental and is unlikely to be re-signed after the season unless Seattle wins a championship. In the trade, the M's gave up prospects Tyler Locklear, Hunter Cranton (No. 16 team prospect), and Juan Burgos. All of them are players ranked outside the top eight in the team's system. Related Headlines San Diego Padres Game Today: Includes Full 2025 Padres Schedule Atlanta Braves Game Today: Includes Full 2025 TV Schedule ESPN's Jeff Passan Torches 'Bitter' Ex-MLB Player in Brutal Social Media Exchange Post-Trade Deadline MLB Power Rankings: Mets and Padres Surge After Busy Week
New York Times
11 minutes ago
- New York Times
Giants' reduced roster wins a tight one post-deadline: ‘We've not given up on you guys'
NEW YORK — The energy pulsated through Citi Field in the ninth inning Friday night. Ryan Helsley, the former St. Louis Cardinals closer and most dominant reliever in the National League last season, jogged to the mound to AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' while making his debut with a new team. The New York Mets are using him as a set-up man. More cheers and more energy followed in the bottom of the ninth when Cedric Mullins, a one-time All-Star and Silver Slugger with the Baltimore Orioles, made his debut as a pinch hitter. Here in Queens, he'll be a bench bat. Advertisement The Mets were like most contending clubs, loading up prior to Thursday night's trade deadline. They got stronger on paper. Just as significantly, they got stronger in their own minds. There is no underselling the importance of a vote of confidence from management, especially when that confidence is expressed in actions and not merely in words. Almost every NL contender received that vote of confidence in one form or another, welcoming a wave of roster reinforcements. Several of the biggest acquisitions were in the bullpen. The Mets got Helsley. The San Diego Padres added former A's closer and strikeout machine Mason Miller to an already daunting collection of relief arms. The Philadelphia Phillies gave up two top prospects to get Jhoan Duran and his 100 mph splinker from the Minnesota Twins. Up till 48 hours before the trade deadline, the San Francisco Giants could make a statistical claim that their bullpen was the best in the league. It was the only part of their roster that merited superlatives. Not anymore. Fed up with their inattentive and sloppy play, which culminated in their first 0-6 homestand since 1896, Giants president Buster Posey pivoted into a selling posture. He subtracted longtime setup man Tyler Rogers on Wednesday. Closer Camilo Doval followed him out the door on Thursday. When the Giants arrived at Citi Field to begin a three-game series Friday night, they endured the odd sight of Rogers, who generates the softest contact from the most fearsome swings, warming up in the other bullpen. All of this put Giants manager Bob Melvin in an awkward position with two months of baseball to play. How do you instill confidence in the clubhouse when the front office's actions indicate otherwise? How do you harden the resolve of an underachieving team forced to listen when their opponents introduce new additions to their cheering fans? How do you reset the paradigm when the losses keep piling up? How do you keep an unimproved team from punching the clock and playing out the string? In a pregame meeting, Melvin's remarks were brief. He encouraged his players to look around the room. Advertisement 'The message team is not, 'We've given up on you guys,'' Melvin said. 'It's not at all. Our big core pieces are still here.' So a team with Matt Chapman and Willy Adames and Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee took the mound behind All-Star left-hander Robbie Ray Friday night. They played clean baseball and took a two-run lead in the eighth inning. When an especially unlucky bounce allowed the Mets to tie the score in the eighth, the game turned into a duel between bullpens. And the Giants, with reduced personnel and a freshly minted closer, prevailed. The Giants scored their automatic runner on Dom Smith's single in the top of the 10th, then Randy Rodríguez struck out pinch hitter Ronny Mauricio to strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning. The Giants' 4-3 victory didn't put them back on the path to contention, but it allowed them to reset their record at .500 and put mental distance between themselves and the winless homestand that forced management to reconsider their trade deadline strategy. Randy Rodriguez tosses 💯 to close it out 🔥 — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 2, 2025 It didn't make any sense that the Giants fell into a tailspin after the mid-June blockbuster trade that brought Devers from the Boston Red Sox. Who knows? Maybe it won't make any sense for a reduced roster to storm its way back into postseason relevance in August. 'We know we have to be better and play more games like that,' said Adames, who speared a hard grounder to start a double play behind Ray in the third inning. 'And I feel today was a big game to get in a different mood. It's been tough. The boys are feeling it. They knew that tonight, we had to make an adjustment and win that game no matter how. And it went our way. I mean … it almost didn't. But we found a way to be on top.' Advertisement The Mets tied it in the eighth against left-hander Joey Lucchesi, who has elevated himself from non-roster fungibility to a prime relief role. But the Mets received a huge break when Juan Soto's ground ball up the middle clipped Lucchesi's leg and caromed away from Adames for an RBI single. 'It was coming straight at me,' Adames said. ' That's why we were like, 'What the heck is going on?' That was an easy double play. He didn't hit it hard and I was right there. I would've done it myself.' It was the kind of break that's been going against the Giants in recent weeks. They had to endure another with two outs in the 10th when umpires ruled that Pete Alonso checked his swing with a full count. Rodríguez had no margin for error with the bases loaded and threw four consecutive fastballs to Ronny Mauricio, striking him out with a 100.1 mph four-seamer at the knees. 'Look, we had to work hard to get it,' Melvin said. 'The check swing call was ridiculous on Alonso. (Rodríguez) had to go through another guy. But, you know, (facing the) top of the order, man on second to start the inning, that was pretty spectacular for Randy to leave everyone out there. 'We're going through a lot of stuff right now and that one felt like, 'What else can go wrong?' But to battle through and get a win is huge.' The Giants didn't move the needle on their playoff odds Friday. The Padres, now with more fangs in their Cerberus of a bullpen, also won to maintain a six-game lead over the Giants for the final wild-card spot. As much as Melvin stressed that the Giants retained their core pieces, including Ray, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, there is plenty of important value to be found on the margins of a roster, too. The 2021 team, an ensemble cast, can present its 107 regular-season victories as evidence. While other contenders added seasoned role players to their roster margins, the Giants called up outfielder Grant McCray and infielder Christian Koss and they will hand the baseball on Saturday to Kai-Wei Teng, a right-hander they designated for assignment a year ago. Teng has made major strides this season at Triple-A Sacramento. He's the best hope they have right now. Advertisement Perhaps soon, the Giants will introduce right-hander Blade Tidwell or outfielder Drew Gilbert, whom they obtained from the Mets for Rogers. They'll have no reason not to take a look at Jesus Rodríguez, the contact-hitting catcher who headlined the New York Yankees' otherwise underwhelming four-player prospect package to acquire Doval. If McCray can't stick, then Gilbert looms as a potential 24-year-old version of Mike Yastrzemski. There is still a chance for the Giants to make something positive out of a frustrating season. It'd help, of course, if Devers didn't strike out in each of his first four at-bats, as he did Friday. Or if Lee can turn more of his soft contact outs into sharply hit singles and doubles. The Giants players who remain understand this much: if it's not working, Posey will step in to make changes. 'Making moves like that showed the players that, hey, look, we're going to do something a little bit different,' Melvin said. 'And maybe that's the case now. Maybe that's part of the message to these guys: We've gotta do things a little differently.' (Photo of catcher Patrick Bailey and Rodríguez celebrating the win: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
