As July 30 approaches, the Chicago Cubs could soon be trading away one of the fixtures of their rotation.
Flashes of a winning DNA have been few and far between for the 2024 Cubs. For the most part, they've been inconsistent, underwhelming, and unsuccessful.
Chicago, at 39-46 and last in the National League Central, is looking like a seller in July barring a freakish turnaround.
The Cubs have talent on offense that contending clubs will be calling Chicago's president Jed Hoyer about in the coming days.
It's also becoming plausible that certain Cubs pitchers are very much on the market. Kyle Hendricks is a name that's been thrown around of late, and now Jameson Taillon could be entering trade discussions.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi reported on Monday that Chicago might contemplate moving Taillon.
“(The Cubs) have been at or near the bottom of the (National League) Central for a while," Morosi said. "And you consider where they’re at at the moment, I would mention two names right now: Jameson Taillon and Nico Hoerner. Jameson Taillon has two years left on his contract after this year, $18M a year … In a year where there’s not a ton of controllable pitching available, I think the Cubs have to consider the possibility of moving a Jameson Taillon."
Taillon, 32, is 4-4 with a 3.03 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 13 starts this year (74 1/3 innings pitched).
Will Chicago entertain an offer for Taillon this month, or is he more likely to remain a Cub for the remainder of his deal?