Pitching, pitching and more pitching on Jed Hoyer’s mind as championship-chasing Cubs approach trade deadline
<p>Welcome to mid July at Wrigley Field, where all eyes are on August and October.</p><p>The trade deadline is Aug. It’s then that team president Jed Hoyer faces his last big chance to bolster a <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> roster with championship-level expectations.</p><p>That means pitching, pitching and more pitching as the team <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/16/cubs-second-half-preview-brewers-nl-central-standings-pete-crow-armstrong-mvp-craig-counsell-jed-hoyer-mlb-trade-deadline-alex-bregman" >emerges from the All-Star break in playoff position</a> but still hobbled from an avalanche of pitching injuries.</p><p>“We’re not ruling out any kind of position-player transaction,” Hoyer said Friday, “but the expectation is we will focus on our pitching staff.”</p><p>A team’s ability to compete in October is what drives decision-makers to be aggressive or conservative during trade season.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Welcome to mid July at Wrigley Field, where all eyes are on August and October.</p><p>The trade deadline is Aug. It’s then that team president Jed Hoyer faces his last big chance to bolster a <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> roster with championship-level expectations.</p><p>That means pitching, pitching and more pitching as the team <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/16/cubs-second-half-preview-brewers-nl-central-standings-pete-crow-armstrong-mvp-craig-counsell-jed-hoyer-mlb-trade-deadline-alex-bregman" >emerges from the All-Star break in playoff position</a> but still hobbled from an avalanche of pitching injuries.</p><p>“We’re not ruling out any kind of position-player transaction,” Hoyer said Friday, “but the expectation is we will focus on our pitching staff.”</p><p>A team’s ability to compete in October is what drives decision-makers to be aggressive or conservative during trade season. An expanded postseason has meant more teams are, mathematically, able to consider themselves contenders.</p><p>The Cubs, though, are a contender with sky-high goals.</p><p>The question facing Hoyer is does he think this team is capable of achieving them? And if so, does that spark him and his front office to go big in August to try to assure a longer October run than last year?</p><p>“I try to not get overly emotional about it,” Hoyer said.
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- <p>Welcome to mid July at Wrigley Field, where all eyes are on August and October.</p><p>The trade deadline is Aug. It’s then that team president Jed Hoyer faces his last big chance to bolster a <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> roster with championship-level expectations.</p><p>That means pitching, pitching and more pitching as the team <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/16/cubs-second-half-preview-brewers-nl-central-standings-pete-crow-armstrong-mvp-craig-counsell-jed-hoyer-mlb-trade-deadline-alex-bregman" >emerges from the All-Star break in playoff position</a> but still hobbled from an avalanche of pitching injuries.</p><p>“We’re not ruling out any kind of position-player transaction,” Hoyer said Friday, “but the expectation is we will focus on our pitching staff.”</p><p>A team’s ability to compete in October is what drives decision-makers to be aggressive or conservative during trade season.
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Pitching, pitching and more pitching on Jed Hoyer’s mind as championship-chasing Cubs approach trade deadline
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times