••• 2026 Official Chicago Cubs Thread •••

Whoever Hollowell is, he may not be staying long.

He was in Des Moines this morning. Crazy that him and Thorton were pitching in front of 500 fans in Iowa this week and both pitching today. Especially Thorton yesterday, that was as high leverage situation as you’ll get this early in the season and he killed it.
 
He was in Des Moines this morning. Crazy that him and Thorton were pitching in front of 500 fans in Iowa this week and both pitching today. Especially Thorton yesterday, that was as high leverage situation as you’ll get this early in the season and he killed it.
500? You’ve never been to an ICubs game
 
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I believe that number like I believe our women's basketball attendance.
Then you don't go to many I-Cubs games. Attendance is lower this time of year, sure, but they pull 8K+ in weekend games pretty much all summer, and it's usually a full house on Friday fireworks games. I'd say 5400 average posted above is about right. Unless it's raining cats and dogs, I can't ever remember attendance at Sec Taylor/Principal Park less than 1500.
 
Interesting but I doubt this trade happens. Cubs and Mets have been linked in some other trades since the PCA trade and the rumor is the Mets are a little bitter/have remorse now for trading PCA that the asking prices have not been reasonable. So I would be surprised if the Cubs were willing to send a significant package of prospects for a rental starter. I could see the Cubs being more willing to spend more prospect capital on guys that still have another year of control left but it is to be seen how many of those types will be available at the deadline. I have a bad feeling starting pitching is going to be very costly in terms of prospects at the deadline this year for anyone.

We'll see how Giolito looks for the Padres once he is done ramping up in the minors but he could be a real steal for them if he pitches anything like he did last season and can stay healthy. I was really hoping the Cubs would take a chance on him after the Steele Setback and the Horton injury.

REPORT: The Cubs Have Talked to the Mets About a Freddy Peralta Trade - Bleacher Nation
 
If the Mets are not in the playoff hunt they will trade Peralta since he is a free agent at the end of the year. so he won't cost as much as a cost controlled arm but him coming to the Cubs is a different story. I am sure it will be a bidding war between teams in the race. At some point if the Cubs are in the hunt to make a run you have to go for it and you have to trade your prospects.
 
If the Mets are not in the playoff hunt they will trade Peralta since he is a free agent at the end of the year. so he won't cost as much as a cost controlled arm but him coming to the Cubs is a different story. I am sure it will be a bidding war between teams in the race. At some point if the Cubs are in the hunt to make a run you have to go for it and you have to trade your prospects.
 
If the Mets are not in the playoff hunt they will trade Peralta since he is a free agent at the end of the year. so he won't cost as much as a cost controlled arm but him coming to the Cubs is a different story. I am sure it will be a bidding war between teams in the race. At some point if the Cubs are in the hunt to make a run you have to go for it and you have to trade your prospects.
I think the prospect price is going to be higher than some think it will be especially if there are more teams still looking to buy at the deadline than usual. The expanded playoff format has created a lot more opportunities for teams that are in true seller mode but also has created more teams that think they are playoff contenders looking to buy in recent seasons. There are some tiers to what kind of buyers some teams are as some are looking to buy on the margins without giving up much and then there are the top tier players that teams can basically name their price for and see who is willing to come closest to that.

The bottom line is even the half season rentals are going to cost you a top end prospect or 2 at least I bet. The question is do you think your roster is built to contend for a World Series this year because if you think it is then you almost have to go all in and pay the hefty price to add some elite players at the deadline to fill in the remaining holes in your roster. The window to compete for a World Series is usually small unless you are the Dodgers who just buys every top player that is willing to play in LA these days. The Cubs will be in a spot where are you willing to trade someone like Wiggins or Conrad who could potentially be MLB starters in the near future for a chance to land an elite starting pitcher that could be the difference in a playoff series? You basically mortgage the future for a chance to win now. I think 1 top end of the rotation starter and another proven high leverage late inning reliever would put this current roster firmly into a contender status but those 2 pieces won't come by packaging up a random collection of prospects that are expendable. Especially a high end SP is probably going to hurt a little more than you think to trade for this year.
 
I think the prospect price is going to be higher than some think it will be especially if there are more teams still looking to buy at the deadline than usual. The expanded playoff format has created a lot more opportunities for teams that are in true seller mode but also has created more teams that think they are playoff contenders looking to buy in recent seasons. There are some tiers to what kind of buyers some teams are as some are looking to buy on the margins without giving up much and then there are the top tier players that teams can basically name their price for and see who is willing to come closest to that.

The bottom line is even the half season rentals are going to cost you a top end prospect or 2 at least I bet. The question is do you think your roster is built to contend for a World Series this year because if you think it is then you almost have to go all in and pay the hefty price to add some elite players at the deadline to fill in the remaining holes in your roster. The window to compete for a World Series is usually small unless you are the Dodgers who just buys every top player that is willing to play in LA these days. The Cubs will be in a spot where are you willing to trade someone like Wiggins or Conrad who could potentially be MLB starters in the near future for a chance to land an elite starting pitcher that could be the difference in a playoff series? You basically mortgage the future for a chance to win now. I think 1 top end of the rotation starter and another proven high leverage late inning reliever would put this current roster firmly into a contender status but those 2 pieces won't come by packaging up a random collection of prospects that are expendable. Especially a high end SP is probably going to hurt a little more than you think to trade for this year.
The Cubs have a number of pieces that are blocked on the MLB roster. Matt Shaw is a good player that would be worth more to a team where he could play every day, Pedro Ramirez has no where to go, etc.
 
The Cubs have a number of pieces that are blocked on the MLB roster. Matt Shaw is a good player that would be worth more to a team where he could play every day, Pedro Ramirez has no where to go, etc.
Yup and it may cost trading one or both to get an impact piece at the deadline. Shaw Horton and Wiggins were 3 names that teams were apparently asking for starting pitching at rhe deadline last year and it wasn't just wanting one of the 3 it was 2 if not all 3 depending on the player. Alacantra and Ramirez would be ideal but I'd expect if they want to be in on the top starters at the deadline Conrad and Wiggins will be 2 guys teams will try tonget and it very well may take a package with one of them to get a deal done.