Chicago Cubs

As a handful of teams eye Jameson Taillon, the Chicago Cubs starting pitcher said he hasn't had to veto any potential trades yet, per The Athletic's Patrick Mooney.

Taillon has a 10-team no-trade list, meaning he can veto trades to certain teams. With the trade deadline looming, Taillon will have to approve of whatever team the Cubs want to trade him to, if any.

"I haven't had to say yes or no to anything," he said.

Last week, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are both interested in Taillon, though the team hadn't yet decided whether it would be a buyer or a seller at the deadline.

Taillon, who is in his second year with the Cubs, has a 3.35, 82 strikeouts and a 7-6 record. He would be of great assistance to a pair of teams looking to make a postseason run like the Yankees and Red Sox.

While it's been a disappointing 51-57 season for the Cubs, they are just six games back from the final wild-card spot, so a postseason run is still very much on the table for Chicago.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the team had no plans to pursue rental players at the deadline, indicating it won't make any major sacrifices in return for a shot at a deep postseason run.

Still, it's unclear whether Chicago is a buyer or seller, as it landed an All-Star in Isaac Parades from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. In the hours ahead of Tuesday's deadline, the Cubs' position will become clearer, and Taillon's future will be decided.

Isaac Paredes is headed to the Friendly Confines.

The Tampa Bay Rays are trading the All-Star third baseman to the Chicago Cubs for a return that includes Christopher Morel and prospects Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge, the team announced Sunday.

The move comes as Paredes had been linked to teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Houston Astros ahead of the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline.

Paredes is hitting .247/.355/.438 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 2024. He has been playing third base for the majority of his games in 2024, but has seen time at first base and designated hitter as well. Additionally, he has played shortstop and second base earlier in his career.

The move allows the Rays to recoup assets like Morel, who has multiple years of control and is in need of a change in scenery. He is hitting just .199 in 2024, but notably has 18 home runs and 51 RBIs.

Paredes also has multiple years of control and will be a long-term investment for Chicago. This is important, as the current playoff chances for the Cubs are not very high.

Chicago is 50-56 and currently sits in last place in the NL Central. The team is six games out of the final Wild Card spot and while a run is technically possible, it certainly is not likely enough to trigger a true rental.

The acquisition of Paredes bolsters the Cubs infield and also could allow the team to sell of other pieces like outfielder Cody Bellinger without seeing too much of a decline in the lineups production.

The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline is set for July 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

The Houston Astros are interested in potentially acquiring Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon ahead of the MLB trade deadline, according to Chandler Rome, Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale previously reported on Sunday that the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have "had talks" with Chicago regarding Taillon.

With the Cubs currently sitting 5.5 games back from the final National League wild card spot, they may choose to move the 32-year-old right-hander.

On Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com listed Chicago among the teams that may look to "thread the buy/sell needle" prior to the deadline. This could result in the departure of Taillon, who'll be turning 33 years old in November.

The Cubs might look to capitalize on his current trade value, as he's accumulated a career-best 2.96 ERA through his first 17 starts in 2024. He also recorded a 7-5 record, accumulating 78 strikeouts compared to 21 walks.

Rome, Rosenthal and Mooney noted on Thursday that the Astros are interested in Taillon as he would fill a need for the team during the 2024 season and beyond. He currently has two more years left on his contract before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027.

While the Astros still hold a narrow one-game lead in the AL West, starting pitching has not been the team's strong suit following a string of injuries. Houston has an ERA of 4.24 among starters in 2024, representing the No. 19 mark in the majors (via MLB.com).

Astros general manager Dana Brown was honest about his interest in acquiring some rotation help during a Monday appearance on MLB Network Radio.

"Try to go big and see if there's a deal that makes sense for the organization," Brown said (h/t CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson). "If that doesn't work, we'll go down to mid-level and hopefully we can land something there. But it doesn't hurt to ask."

The Astros will likely continue to register interest in Taillon ahead of the trade deadline on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

As the July 30 trade deadline quickly approaches, the Chicago Cubs won't be making moves to turn their 2024 season around.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters on Monday that "unless things change dramatically" over the next week, the team will be looking to make moves to build for the 2025 season and beyond rather than improve for the second half of the 2024 campaign.

The Cubs rank fourth in the NL Central with a 48-53 record entering Monday's series opener against the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago lost two out of three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks this past weekend in its first series after the All-Star break and sits 3.5 games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League.

The 2024 season began with some promise for the Cubs, as they opened with a 17-9 record. Unfortunately, a tough stretch between late May and early June caused Chicago's record to drop below .500, and the team has yet to recover.

The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported that the Cubs "remain in listening mode" ahead of the 2024 trade deadline and named starting pitcher Justin Steele and second baseman Nico Hoerner as players who would draw trade interest. However, it was noted that Chicago's asking price for those players would be very high, limiting the possibility of either of them getting traded.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale also recently reported that the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are interested in pursuing Chicago veteran pitcher Jameson Taillon.

With all signs pointing to the Cubs missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the team's best course could be to ship away its top players and add assets that would be beneficial in the long run.

The Chicago Cubs "remain in listening mode" ahead of the MLB trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.

"Though the asking price would surely be astronomical, those conversations could theoretically include offers for standout left-hander Justin Steele," per the report.

The Athletic also cautioned "there is little reason to think that he is going anywhere" in part because of what the Cubs would likely ask back in return.

The situation appears to be the same with second baseman Nico Hoerner. Mooney, Rosenthal and Sammon reported a trade for Chicago "would have to involve receiving legitimate contributors who can be plugged into next year's team."

"The Cubs don't feel any internal pressure to make moves just to duck beneath this year's $237 million luxury-tax threshold," per The Athletic. "The potential options are generally limited by players who are either injured, underperforming or working with no-trade clauses. The organization also isn't interested in adding extra A-ball prospects to the farm system."

Steele is just 2-4 through 15 starts but sports a 3.07 ERA and a 3.18 FIP. The southpaw is on pace to have his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA, and he should surpass 170 innings pitched for the second successive year.

Adding to Steele's value, he's not eligible to hit the open market until 2028.

It's a similar story with Hoerner, who boasts a positive level of on-field consistency with multiple years of team control. He's in the first year of his three-year, $35 million extension, which represents solid value for what he's providing at the plate and in the middle of the infield.

Hoerner has a .258/.338/.352 slash line through 92 games, and the reigning Gold Glove winner remains a plus defender. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average metric.

At 48-53, the Cubs are fourth in the National League Central and sit 3.5 games back of the final wild-card spot. FanGraphs gives them an 8.4 percent chance of reaching the postseason.

Chicago is in a position to be a seller at the deadline but won't want to tear the roster down to the studs. Both Steele and Hoerner figure to be important contributors in 2025, so it's little surprise the front office is driving a hard bargain in any hypothetical trades.

The Chicago Cubs have been one of the most disappointing teams in all of Major League Baseball this season, which makes them potential sellers ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.

If they do decide to sell, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are reportedly interested in pitcher Jameson Taillon.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported as much Sunday but noted Chicago hasn't fully decided whether it will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. While the team is just 47-53 and ahead of only the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins in the National League, it is also just 4.5 games back of the final wild-card spot in a wide-open league.

Ultimately, the Cubs have to weigh more than just whether they are going to be buyers or sellers this season with Taillon.

After all, he is under contract through the 2026 season and is someone who could help them compete in future years even if the 2024 one has been so lackluster.

On the other hand, Taillon is 32 years old with an inconsistent track record. He has been largely excellent this season and may not be able to replicate such a stat line in future years, so trading him this month could be a case of moving on from someone when his value is as high as possible.

The right-hander has a 3.10 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 75 strikeouts in 93 innings and 16 starts this season, which is as good of a stat line as the Cubs could have ever realistically hoped for from a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

Trading him now could help bolster the farm system with an eye on the future, and the front office likely won't have to worry about someone who had an ERA of 4.30 or above in two of the last three years dominating as he ages and making them regret the move.

As for the Yankees and Red Sox, they could both use more effective pitching depth down the stretch as they fight for playoff spots.

New York is two games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East, while Boston is 6.5 games back. The Red Sox are also tied with the Kansas City Royals for the final AL wild-card spot.

Even a small boost from adding Taillon could make the difference between a playoff spot and watching the postseason at home, so it comes as no surprise both teams would be interested if the Cubs decide to sell.

MLB released the schedule for the 2025 season on Thursday, and it is headlined by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's homecoming.

Ohtani and the Dodgers will open the 2025 campaign on March 18-19 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan against the Chicago Cubs.

Below is a look at more key dates:

• March 18-19: Tokyo Series featuring Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
• March 27: Opening Day
• May 16-18: Rivalry Weekend
• July 15: 2025 MLB All-Star Game
• September 28: Regular season concludes

Thursday's news comes after USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier this year that the Dodgers and Cubs were "privately informed they have been selected to open the 2025 season in Tokyo." This will be the sixth time in MLB history that a season opener takes place in Tokyo and marks the 25th anniversary of the first MLB games ever to be played in Japan, which featured the Cubs taking on the New York Mets at the Tokyo Dome on March 29-30, 2000.

The Dodgers will be playing in Japan for the first time but are no strangers to international games. Los Angeles opened the 2024 season against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea, and also played in Sydney, Australia, in 2014 and Monterrey, Mexico, in 2018. This will be the third international series for the Cubs following their trip to Tokyo in 2000 and London in 2023.

In addition to Ohtani playing in his home country, the series between the Dodgers and Cubs will be homecomings for Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as well as Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

The 2025 MLB season is sure to bring some excitement, but the second half of the 2024 campaign is about to get underway. The Dodgers will host the Boston Red Sox on Friday, and the Cubs will be in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Chicago Cubs are moving outfielder Cody Bellinger to the 10-day injured list because of a fracture in his left middle finger.

The 2023 Silver Slugger winner was hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

The injury comes as Bellinger is the subject of trade rumors ahead of the July 30 deadline.

At 44-49, the Cubs are sitting last in the National League Central, but they're just 3.5 games back of the final wild-card spot. Should they decide to pack it in and become a seller within the next few weeks, Bellinger is one of the more logical candidates to go out the door based on his contract structure.

Though the 28-year-old penned a three-year, $80 million contract with Chicago last offseason, it effectively operates as a one-year rolling pact. He can opt out this winter or after the 2025 season.

Chicago could look to cash out now if the front office senses he wants to test his value on the open market again.

Granted, Bellinger's performance means he might be wary of turning down a $27.5 million salary. Through 79 games, he has a .269/.331/.410 slash line and a 107 OPS+, which is well below his 135 OPS+ from 2023, per Baseball Reference.

If the left-handed slugger was unable to secure a nine-figure payout on the heels of becoming an elite hitter again, then one presumably won't be forthcoming after his production has declined slightly.

For now, any interested suitors in Bellinger will remain in a holding pattern until he makes his return to the field.

As the July 30 trade deadline draws nearer, many around MLB are reportedly wondering what the Chicago Cubs are planning.

While the Cubs are tied for last in the NL Central with a 44-49 record, they are still in contention for a wild-card spot. The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported that there's uncertainty over whether Chicago will be looking to add talent or ship away some of its top trade pieces.

"Across the industry, no one is sure if they'll buy, sell or hold at this year's trade deadline as they sit 3 1/2 games out of wild-card position with five teams they would have to jump over," Bowden stated.

After missing the playoffs for the last three years, the Cubs have pieces in place to be competitive in the postseason, but they have a few holes on the roster that need filling.

Bowden added that the Cubs "know if they upgrade the bullpen and acquire a better offensive catcher, they could be formidable as they do have starting pitching that's capable of running the table in October." Chicago reportedly has been linked to Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, who will be a free agent this winter.

However, Bowden noted that the Cubs have fielded interest for veteran outfielder Cody Bellinger from teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners. Depending on how the next few weeks play out, Chicago could decide its best course is to start building for the future.

"If they stumble out of the All-Star break, don't be surprised if they decide to retool for 2025," Bowden added.

A frustrating season for the Chicago Cubs took another bad turn on Sunday when Colten Brewer landed on the injured list.

The Cubs announced prior to their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels that Brewer was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Brewer told reporters he suffered a broken hand in Saturday's game after punching the dugout wall in frustration. The right-hander was charged with three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.

"My intention wasn't to break my hand," Brewer said. "I'll get frustrated and make mistakes. That's no excuse. There's a lot I can prove out there, that I'm willing not to do stuff like that. Emotions get the best of us sometimes."

Brewer entered the game to start the third inning. He came on to relieve Kyle Hendricks, who allowed two runs on four hits in two innings.

The first three hitters reached base against Brewer, including one because of a throwing error by the right-hander. It was one of two throwing errors in the inning, with the second one committed by first baseman Michael Busch.

By the time the third inning was over, the Cubs were trailing 5-0. They went on to lose the game 7-0 with Angels starter Tyler Anderson striking out 10 over eight shutout innings.

Since winning 18 of their first 30 games to start the season, the Cubs are 23-37 in the last 60 games. Their 41-49 record coming into Sunday is the third-worst in the NL, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (32-57) and Miami Marlins (31-58).

Despite their ongoing struggles, the Cubs are only six games out of a wild card spot because the middle of the NL has been mediocre so far.

Brewer is in his first season with the Cubs after signing a deal in January. He finished 2023 with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan after appearing in three games with the New York Yankees early in the season.

The 31-year-old has a 5.66 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 20.2 innings in 16 appearances this season. He will be eligible to return on Sept. 6.