ESPN Insider Believes This Cubs Prospect Is Untouchable
Desperate for rotation help, the Cubs are poised to trade nearly any prospect—except one untouchable rising star—to land a premier ace before the looming August deadline.
Video Transcript
What is up Cubs fans, and welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And we are just one week away from the 2026 trade deadline.
There's gonna be a lot of rumors and reports that come out over the next week as kind of things heat up.
We already found out that Joe Ryan will not be traded according to Jim Bowden, and we also found out from Ken Rosenthal that teams have been unwilling to meet the Roskis' asking price for Hunter Goodman.
We got some more insight from what the Cubs plan to do at this year's trade deadline.
Obviously, we know the Cubs are going to be trying to acquire a top-of-the-line starting pitcher, 'cause they need the help.
They definitely need the help.
David Peterson, Colin Ray, Jamison Taillon are not gonna be good enough to get you through the stretch run.
So the Cubs need that top-of-the-line premier starting pitcher.
But that comes with the question of who are the Cubs willing to give up to go get that top-of-the-line starting pitcher?
Well, we found out from Jeff Passan, who answered Q&As here on Threads on Monday morning.
We found out that Passan reported that no one's really untouchable in the Cubs system outside of Josiah Harnedarn.
Passan says that Harnedarn is probably off limits at this year's trade deadline, but then went on to say that Jefferson Rojas and Jackson Wiggins, King Copely, those are guys that could all be dealt at this year's trade deadline, as well as some Major League players.
Obviously Matt Shaw, Pedro Maris could be some Major League players that the Cubs could move to land a controllable starting pitcher.
But it looks like all signs are pointing to the Cubs keeping Josiah Harnedarn, and it makes a lot of sense that Harnedarn is kind of that untouchable Cubs prospect, considering his 2026 year in his first professional season.
He has looked really good in the Cubs minors this year.
Started the year at Single A, hit the ball well, then moved to Triple A, where he has still hit the ball well.
So looks like the Cubs are gonna be open to doing business at the trade deadline, but they will not be looking to get rid of Josiah Harnedarn, who is kind of that off limit hitter in the Cubs Minor Leagues.
Let me know what you guys think about the Cubs trade deadline.
Do you think they could get rid of Harnedarn?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs, go
