{"id":72784,"date":"2025-08-01T08:41:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T08:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=72784"},"modified":"2025-08-01T08:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T08:41:14","slug":"why-the-cubs-held-back-from-going-all-in-on-a-starter-ahead-of-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=72784","title":{"rendered":"Why the Cubs held back from going all in on a starter ahead of trade deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Chicago Cubs entered the 2025 MLB trade deadline in a precarious spot\u2014competitive enough to chase the NL Central, but not dominant enough to risk long-term assets. That context shaped the front office’s calculated decision to avoid blockbuster moves for a frontline starting pitcher.<\/p>\n

The Cubs trade deadline strategy became a hot topic after president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer addressed reporters on Thursday. He outlined the reasons behind the team\u2019s restraint, and his remarks gained traction following a post by ESPN\u2019s Jesse Rogers.<\/p>\n

Rogers took to his X account (formerly known as Twitter) and shared a quote from Hoyer on why the team did not go all in at the 2025 trade deadline.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a SP standpoint, it was a really tight market. Very few rental starters. Of the marquee controllable starters, none of them changed hands. We didn\u2019t acquire them but no one else did either. We felt the asking price was something we couldn\u2019t do to the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chicago had been linked to starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, but Hoyer declined to confirm any specific targets. Rogers also noted on the platform that he refused to elaborate on why the team didn\u2019t pursue Kelly as a rental option.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you line up with teams and sometimes you don’t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by just one game in the race for the NL Central title, the team selected long-term sustainability over short-term risk. At 63-45, the Cubs boast a strong 33-19 record at Wrigley Field and remain firmly in the playoff mix. However, a 10-10 record over their last 20 games, including a 4-6 slide in their last 10, has sparked valid concerns about the Cubs\u2019 momentum heading into August.<\/p>\n

The market reality backed up Hoyer\u2019s caution. No top-tier controllable arms, like MacKenzie Gore or Garrett Crochet, were moved at the deadline. Instead, the Cubs opted for lower-cost depth additions such as Andrew Kittredge, Taylor Rogers, Michael Soroka, and utility man Willi Castro\u2014reinforcing an approach focused on value without overreach.<\/p>\n

While Cubs leadership remains under scrutiny, the decision to avoid mortgaging the farm system for a marginal rotation upgrade may ultimately prove wise. As Hoyer noted, the asking prices were steep\u2014and several other contenders made similar choices to stand firm.<\/p>\n

While some fans hoped for a bolder move\u2014especially after the Cubs’ strong start at 36-20 through the beginning of June\u2014the front office has prioritized the long-term picture. They’re still firmly in the hunt, but not at the expense of 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n

In the end, the Cubs resisted pressure to make a splash. Instead, they bet on internal improvement and market discipline\u2014setting up an intense finish to the regular season without sacrificing their future flexibility.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs stayed quiet at the MLB trade deadline as Jed Hoyer prioritized the future over rental starters in a tight pitching market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":72785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[282,624,44,272],"class_list":["post-72784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-jed-hoyer","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-trade-deadline"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy the Cubs held back from going all in on a starter ahead of trade deadline - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=72784\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why the Cubs held back from going all in on a starter ahead of trade deadline - 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