ESPN’s Jeff Passan said that almost every one of the top Chicago Cubs prospects is on the table as we approach the trade deadline, and even players from the team’s MLB roster could be moved in the right trade. While the organization’s No. 1 prospect appears to be safe from being dealt away, other prominent names in the minor leagues could be traded within the week. Let’s take a look at the players most likely to be traded by the Cubs, who are expected to make at least one notable trade by the deadline.
First, here’s what Passan said earlier this week, when answering who the Cubs could be willing to deal for starting pitching help.
Via Threads.
“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.”
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Realistically, it makes sense that Josiah Hartshorn is somewhat of an untouchable, considering that he’s risen to the top prospect status for the Cubs this year, and you rarely see top-100 prospects traded during the season anymore.
Jefferson Rojas is another consensus top-100 prospect in the Cubs’ minor league system, and some experts still view him as the team’s No. 1 prospect. However, unlike Hartshorn, Rojas could be more likely to be traded simply because his path toward making an impact at the major league level is blocked by Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson up the middle, while Alex Bregman is over at third base for the foreseeable future.
And speaking of the MLB infield, Pedro Ramirez has suddenly become a fan favorite thanks to his performance at the plate off the bench in 2026. The switch-hitter has a slash line of .305/.348/.451 in 90 plate appearances. He’s known for his great glove in the infield, and the early results on offense could certainly make him an attractive piece for another team looking for a bat in exchange for pitching.
We have already seen the Boston Red Sox trade a very good and young starting pitcher, Connelly Early, to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Curtis Mead. That’s definitely going to be used as a comparison in trade talks for controllable starting pitching, and the Red Sox specifically trading away Early is significant because he was a name linked to the Cubs in the offseason. Back in the winter, especially after the Cubs signed Bregman, Matt Shaw became a popular name in trade speculation.
Shaw is currently on the injured list, sidelined with a wrist issue since the end of June, and while he won’t be back activated before the trade deadline, he could definitely be dangled by the Cubs for a pitcher who is under team control for several years. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon recently reported that the Seattle Mariners are shopping right-handed starter Emerson Hancock, while also bringing up the Cubs as a potential trade partner. The MLB insiders then named Shaw as a possible return in a trade with the Mariners.
Another starting pitcher heavily linked to the Cubs in trade rumors is lefty Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels. It could be a match made in heaven, as the Angels are reportedly seeking a catcher as part of the return for Detmers. The Cubs have an ascending catching prospect, Owen Ayers, who has .322/.433/.618 slash line across three minor league levels this season.
So, Ayers could be dealt at his highest value, but in a trade for a starting pitcher who is under team control for multiple seasons, he might be considered a secondary piece at this point.
Other top-10 Cubs prospects who may be on the table include Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley, Kaleb Wing, and Ethan Conrad. However, out of those four, Wiggins and Conrad have kind of lost their prospect hype because of injuries. Wiggins was the Cubs’ top prospect heading into 2026, but an arm issue popped up in April, and the right-hander didn’t pitch in a game again until the middle of June.
The 24-year-old pitcher has struggled with his control since returning to Triple-A, so trading Wiggins now would be when his value has diminished compared to last summer.
As for Conrad, the Cubs’ first-round pick in 2025, he was delayed because of a back injury to begin the 2026 season and didn’t make his debut in pro ball until the end of June. The left-handed hitting outfielder has played 12 games at Low-A Ball, and he’s slashing .133/.235/.222 in 51 plate appearances. Again, you wouldn’t want the Cubs to trade Conrad right now, when his stock is very low because of injuries and just a lack of actual playing time.
Meanwhile, other potential trade chips from the Cubs’ minor league system include right-handed pitcher Brooks Caple, infielder Juan Cabada, infielder Juan Tomas, right-handed pitcher Dominic Reid, and right-handed pitcher Mason McGwire. Those players are currently ranked inside the organization’s top-20 on MLB Pipeline’s list.
A few other prospects who are in Triple-A and may be traded include outfielder Brett Batemna and right-handed pitcher Grant Kipp.
Now, just because the Cubs need to trade for a starting pitcher, it’s not a guarantee that they’ll be able to get a top-tier arm in the market. They settled for Michael Soroka last season, unwilling to meet the high asking price for the big-name starters. Will they be more inclined to dive into the deep end this time around?
We’ll see. The trade deadline is on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m.
