Cubs doesn't want to upset chemistry with trade

The Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline is fast approaching for major-league baseball teams.

The Cubs are working the phones, no doubt in an effort to shore up their bullpen. The Cubs likely won't seriously mortgage their future to get a big-name bullpen arm - such as the Yankees' Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman - and they point out that in-house options are available in veterans Joe Nathan and Brian Matusz, who are at Class AAA Iowa.

Also at Iowa is reliever Trevor Cahill, who is rehabbing a knee injury.

One thing the Cubs won't want to do is upset the positive chemistry they have in the clubhouse. Last season, players such as Cahill, Clayton Richard and starting pitcher Dan Haren came in and fit right in with the positive atmosphere created by manager Joe Maddon.

"The fitting-in component is very big," Maddon said Tuesday. "I've often thought when you do something like that, it's got to be obvious that the guy's going to help. There have been times when I've been involved in situations - I don't want to point them out specifically - but we brought somebody in to help, and there was already people in place, and the guy coming in really wasn't an upgrade, which I believe is not going to happen here. If we bring somebody in, it's going to be an upgrade.

"But if you don't, there can be kind of a dissenting moment within the clubhouse. We have a really tightly knit group in there, and you want to consider all those different factors."

General manager Jed Hoyer talked with reporters on the field before Tuesday's game about the possibility of a trade or trades.

"We're going to assess our team, and we're going to see if there are moves to be made to get better," Hoyer said. "I don't think you make all those phone calls and send all those text messages and work all those hours if you're not serious about making a deal. I think we're only going to make a deal we feel makes us better right now.

Hoyer also downplayed talk that injured catcher-outfielder Kyle Schwarber will be dealt at or before the deadline. Schwarber is rehabbing a season-ending knee injury he suffered in April.

"I think he knows how we feel about him," Hoyer said. "I think this guys's an elite, middle-of-the-order bat. He's got the kind of makeup we look for. I'll let that stand for itself."

Rehab stints delayed:

Outfielders Dexter Fowler and Jorge Soler were supposed to begin their injury-rehab assignments Tuesday at Class AAA Iowa, but Iowa's game was rained out. They'll try again today. Trevor Cahill (knee) started Monday for Iowa, working 2⅔ innings and giving up 4 hits and 3 runs while walking three and striking out three. He threw 57 pitches in his first rehab appearance. It's possible Fowler could be back this weekend in Milwaukee.