Two names linked as potential deadline options for Cubs

Joe Nicholson - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 16 hours ago

Given the recent struggles of the Chicago Cubs and the closeness of the NL Central, it seems highly unlikely that this team will remain silent come the deadline as they aim to improve their roster. When those moves will take place and who those players will be remains the big question as the Cubs continue to be name-dropped among several impending trade deadline options.

That includes several names at the hot corner, as the Cubs' overall patience with Matt Shaw is becoming thin; that is the biggest hole in their lineup. You could argue that their bench is one of the weaker ones in the game, but if the Cubs trade for a third baseman, Shaw moves to the bench, which instantly improves that area of the team.

Guys like Ryan McMahon and Eugenio Suarez have already been linked to the Cubs as potential third-base options, but Monday afternoon saw two more names emerge as possible fits for Chicago, and both of them happen to have third-base experience. The first of those names is Ke'Bryan Hayes, who remains one of the many young, intriguing players for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Of all the teams in the NL Central, it's safe to assume that the Pirates have no shot at making the playoffs this season and will once again be sellers at the deadline. There have already been reports that the Cubs and Pirates have been discussing both Mitch Keller and David Bednar, as both would be nice acquisitions for this team.

Hearing Hayes as another name the Cubs are considering is all the proof you need that the Cubs and Pirates are indeed discussing some sort of trade in the near future. When you look at Hayes and what he brings to the table, not only is he a great defensive player, but he also comes with plenty of offensive upside as long as he can stay healthy.

Health has been the biggest issue for Hayes throughout his career, and that alone is a concern for any team looking to trade for him. However, with seven million owed to him this season and 36 million over the next five seasons, adding him to the Cubs lineup would not only be an upgrade, but an upgrade at a bargain rate.

The goal in trading for third basemen isn't to replace Shaw long-term, but more so to raise the overall floor of this team, which is what Hayes would do. Hayes has been struggling this season with two homers and 27 RBIs, but has hit 15 homers as recently as 2023. Those are the numbers the Cubs would love to see from him should they make the move, and that alone makes this lineup that much deeper.

Apart from Hayes being a new name added to the list, Taylor Ward has also been added to the Cubs' list of potential deadline targets, which is a bit of a strange name drop. There is no question that Ward is a far superior hitter than McMahon, Hayes, and Shaw, but he has primarily played outfield the past few seasons and hasn't seen extended time over there since 2019.

That alone makes his name an even stranger name to digest, as the Cubs' outfield is set for the foreseeable future, while putting someone at third for the first time in five years doesn't seem like an upgrade. However, two things are starting to make his name a logical fit for the Cubs, with one of them coming from his overall power at the plate.

Sure, the .216 average isn't what you like to see, but with 20 homers and 57 RBIs, he would rank third on the Cubs with those ranks and would add another power bat into their lineup. Ward has also been known to kill lefties over his career, and for a team that is a league-worst against left-handed starters, any help in that department would be greatly appreciated.

Not to mention that he is making just $7.8 million over the next year and a half, and you have to believe that the Cubs are going to figure out a place for him to play, even if it means moving back to a place that he hasn't seen much time at lately.

Whatever the Cubs decide to do, they are expected to be one of the more active teams at the deadline and if they aren't active, it would be seen as a massive whiff for the front office.