Hoyer not looking to add at deadline, but still time for Cubs to make a move

Jed Hoyer made a tentative declaration Monday at Wrigley Field.

Using familiar trade deadline terms, the Cubs president of baseball operations stated the team does not expect to be buyers. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll be sellers, though, either.

“Unless things change over the next week, we probably won't do a lot of moves that only help us for this year.,” Hoyer said.

Of course, there's still another week before the deadline arrives on July 30. The Cubs made another step in the right direction by beating the first-place Milwaukee Brewers 3-1. The Cubs have gone 10-5 since July 4.

This victory belonged to the red-hot Cubs bullpen. Starting pitcher Javier Assad left in the fourth inning after giving up 6 walks. But Drew Smyly, Tyson Miller, Mark Leiter Jr., Porter Hodge and Hector Neris finished it off. Hodge gave up a solo homer to Willy Adames in the eighth for Milwaukee's lone run.

Ian Happ rocketed his 16th home run into the right field bleachers in the sixth. The Cubs also scored on a Michael Busch RBI single and when Mike Tauchman raced home on a wild pitch.

“That's our job in the clubhouse right now is to make it tough on Jed,” Happ said. “That's going out and playing good baseball and putting ourselves in a position where we can get back in this thing.”

Monday's game was the Cubs' fourth since the all-star break. At the same point last year, the Cubs were seven games below .500, then went on an 18-6 run. They quickly shifted from sellers to buyers, adding Jeimer Candelario and Jose Cuas at the deadline. Of course, neither player could prevent the late September collapse after it looked like the Cubs were locks for the playoffs.

“Certainly we saw what can happen last year, so you never formally plant your feet, you have to be nimble,” Hoyer said. “I think the next seven games obviously matter.”

It's easy to blame Hoyer for the Cubs' underwhelming performance this season, but his two main offseason additions have been terrific. Busch is the Cubs' best hitter and Shota Imanaga their best pitcher. Add to that the successful returns in deadline deals, which added players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Daniel Palencia.

Then again, you are what your record says you are. In the Cubs' case, it's been disappointing.

“That's the last thing I think about,” Hoyer said of his job status. “The minute I become part of the conversation, I'm not making good decisions anymore. For me, it's simply about trying to make good decisions for the organization. That's why I'm here.

“I feel great about where the organization is. But we played badly for two months and now we have to make decisions as it relates to that.”

Hoyer talked about being open to moves that might help the Cubs in 2025 and beyond. Maybe a strong offer for a relief pitcher will be too good to pass up.

But the Cubs don't have any starting pitchers to spare right now, with three currently on the injured list. Complicating matters is Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson all reportedly have full no-trade clauses, which means they could veto any deal. Kyle Hendricks also has veto power since he's reached 10 years of service.

Cody Bellinger has player options in '25 and '26 worth $27.5 million and $25 million. So teams wouldn't know if they'll be paying him for the remainder of this season, or two more years. Also, Bellinger is on the injured list with a broken finger, plus he ranks 18th in MLB in salary, but just 68th in OPS.

The only position players who would seem to be in play for a trade are Nico Hoerner and Christopher Morel. Hoerner might give way soon to prospects Matt Shaw or James Triantos, but Morel has both a high ceiling and several years left of team control. So it's possible the Cubs won't do much.

“There's very few times in the year that people actually transact,” Hoyer said. “Deadlines force actions in this business,

“Therefore, at some level, you have to take advantage, you have to be in that marketplace. If you sit that out, you miss the opportunity — if nothing else, to find out how people value your players in some way. I think it is important to be active during that.”