In reality, everyone is on the table, and there aren’t any actual untouchables, but in practice, blockbuster deals now rarely happen at the MLB trade deadline, so it’s not like top prospects are being dealt away left and right. However, the Chicago Cubs are desperate for starting pitching, and they’d like an arm who could not only give them a chance to win in October, but possibly lead the rotation after the barrage of injuries the team has suffered in 2026. The asking prices are expected to be sky-high for pitching, so that has some fans wondering who the Cubs would be willing to trade in the next week.
Well, according to the most trusted MLB insider, ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Cubs are open to trading just about any of their top prospects, but the organization’s crown jewel will be safe from any trade talks this summer.
Passan was responding to questions from fans on Threads Monday morning, and this reply stood out regarding the players the Cubs may be willing to trade. Josiah Hartshorn, who has jumped to the No. 1 spot in the Cubs minor league system, is currently seen as untouchable.
They’re willing to deal off their major league and minor league rosters. While I think Josiah Hartshorn is off-limits, a majority of their prospects will be available, whether that’s Wiggins, Ramirez, Rojas, Kepley, Ayers, etc. The Cubs are going to get at least one starting arm — and, good for them, it’s the most bountiful position on the market. -Jeff Passan
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Pretty incredible when you consider that Hartshorn didn’t make his pro debut in the minors until this season after he was drafted in the sixth round out of high school in 2025. The 19-year-old began this year with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but it didn’t take long for his promotion to the South Bend Cubs at High-A Ball, getting bumped up a level by the end of May.
After posting an .884 OPS in his first 39 games, the switch-hitting first baseman/corner outfielder has a .911 OPS in 49 games with South Bend, slashing .283/.378/.533 with 11 home runs in 217 plate appearances.
Hartshorn is currently rated as the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America and ESPN’s rankings that were updated following this year’s draft. Meanwhile, MLB Pipeline has Hartshorn ranked second behind shortstop Jefferson Rojas.
Josiah Hartshorn Skyrockets Up Prospect Rankings
Baseball America released its brand new July update, and the Chicago Cubs might just have a new untouchable prospect. Josiah Hartshorn, a 19-year-old outfielder, didn’t make his pro debut until this year after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, but he’s now the top prospect in the Cubs’ minor league system according to Baseball America.
Furthermore, Baseball America ranked Hartshorn No. 29 overall in the latest top-100 prospects list.
The switch-hitter made a joke of Low-A Ball in Myrtle Beach to begin the regular season, which led to a quick promotion up to the South Bend Cubs in May. In 31 games since reaching the Midwest League, Hartshorn has a slash line of .304/.373/.607 with nine home runs, 35 RBI, 26 runs scored, and four stolen bases.
In the past few weeks, the Cubs have completely changed the trajectory of their season, going from a .500 record to 49-38. They will 100% be in a position to add pitching at the trade deadline, so naturally, fans should expect a lot of speculation during the next month. Hartshorn will be tossed around in trade rumors, but although there aren’t true untouchable prospects on any team, Hartshorn may be as close to that title as anyone else right now in the Cubs farm system.
He’s made such a strong first impression this year, which includes a trip to the 2026 Futures Game.
A few weeks ago, Hartshorn cracked MLB.com’s top-100 prospects list, and now he’s up to No. 79 there, third in the Cubs’ minor league system. There’s a good chance that Hartshorn eventually becomes the consensus top prospect for the Cubs by the end of this year or by next spring.
Josiah Hartshorn Rising in Rankings
He wasn’t a first-round pick, and he didn’t play in the minors in 2025 after he was drafted, so it’s understandable why there wasn’t too much hype around 19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn entering 2026. However, the kid has certainly changed that, as Hartshorn is beginning to emerge as a star prospect.
Hartshorn started the 2026 season at Myrtle Beach in Low-A Ball, but he was promoted after outclassing the competition in 39 games. Now, after a month playing for the South Bend Cubs in High A-Ball, Hartshorn is on more people’s radar, officially cracking MLB’s top-100 prospects list on Friday.
Hartshorn had an incredible first couple of games after his promotion to South Bend, and he hasn’t exactly slowed down. In 21 games at High-A Ball, the switch-hitter has posted a slash line of .365/.427/.743 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, and 21 runs scored. Hartshorn had a stretch of hitting four home runs in five games and five home runs over seven games.
So, ranked at No. 100 on MLB’s rankings, Hartshorn is the fourth Cubs prospect to make the list in 2026, joining Jefferson Rojas (79), Pedro Ramirez (81), and Jaxon Wiggins (84).
In early May, Hartshorn was ranked No. 98 in Baseball America’s top-100 prospects list.
