The Latest Cubs Trade Deadline Rumors
Chicago chases elite arms to anchor a postseason push. From high-stakes bids for Freddy Peralta to blockbuster Tarik Skubal rumors, discover which prospects the front office might sacrifice.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And we're just a few days away from the 2026 trade deadline, and of course, rumors and reports continue to swirl around.
And the Cubs are at the forefront of a lot of these rumors, as the Cubs are in search of some pitching.
They need both starting pitching and some bullpen help for the stretch run.
So here's kind of the latest reports surrounding the Cubs and their pursuit of pitching at this year's trade deadline.
The first is that the Cubs are interested in Freddy Peralta, according to Will Salmon and Ken Rosenthal.
The Cubs are one of the teams showing the most interest in the right-hander, but both Salmon and Rosenthal reported that the Mets are seeking a top 100 prospect and more for Peralta, who's in the midst of a struggling and career-worst year.
Obviously, a big asking price for Peralta, and something that the Cubs probably won't do.
Cubs probably will not give up a top 100 prospect for a pitcher on an extra- expiring contract, especially Peralta, who has a five ERA this season.
The second is Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, obviously, is gonna be the most coveted pitcher at this year's trade deadline, and George Offman, one of the longtime sports media personality in Chicago, reported that the Tigers are interested in Ben Brown and other players in return for Skubal.
I don't know if the Cubs would do that, giving up Ben Brown for two months of Skubal and more on top of it.
A big asking price for Skubal.
Obviously, it's gonna be a big asking price for a back-to-back American League Cy Young winner.
But that is a big asking price, and I don't know if the Cubs would be willing to give up Ben Brown, who is having a great 2026 season with the Cubs.
A breakout season of sorts.
And the second and last one for the Cubs here, trade deadline rumor, is that the Cubs are interested in Emerson Hancock.
We all know that.
At the Cubs Roundtable here, we reported and put together a potential trade package for Emerson Hancock, an easy deal of Hancock for Matt Shaw, similar to what the Red Sox and Nationals did recently, last weekend, giving up Curtis Mead for Conley Early.
Cubs could do a similar thing by giving Matt Shaw in exchange for Hancock.
But according to Nightingale, he believes that Seiya Suzuki and Matt Shaw is what the Mariners are looking for in exchange for Hancock.
And I don't think the Cubs would be willing to do that, because they're in the middle of a great year themselves, looking to make a deep postseason run.
And giving up Suzuki and Shaw, two bats, for a pitcher in Hancock might not be what they're looking to do business with.
But let me know what you guys think about these potential moves for the Cubs.
Will the Cubs do any of them?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs, go.
