Chicago Cubs Eyeing Pitching Help: Which Top Prospects Could Be Traded?

With the 2026 MLB trade deadline just over two weeks away, the Chicago Cubs are in a strong position to make a playoff push. Sitting 12 games above .500 and five games back in the National League Central, the team is expected to be aggressive buyers, particularly in search of major-league pitching. For Iowa baseball fans, especially those who follow the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in Des Moines, the trade rumors carry local weight: several of the Cubs' top prospects currently playing in Iowa could be on the move.

Who Are the Most Likely Cubs to Be Traded?

Here are the five most realistic candidates who could be shipped out before the August 3 deadline, according to team insiders and league sources.