Chicago Cubs Front Office Under Most Pressure to Get Trade Deadline Right

The Chicago Cubs front office is under the most pressure to get things right at the MLB trade deadline.

Normally, winning five games in a row and seven out of the last eight is a cause for celebration.

For the Chicago Cubs, it brings more questions about the best way to approach the MLB trade deadline.

A couple weeks ago, it looked like the Cubs were going to be sure sellers, especially with some of their big names entering free agency after the season.

Now, the playoffs are in sight for Chicago who have the best run differential in their division as they sit six games out of first place.

While fans might be celebrating the recent return to good form, it puts a ton of pressure on president Jed Hoyer to make the right decisions ahead of the deadline.

He can sell of the big named pieces like Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger who have helped them get into this position or he can hold firm and go for the playoffs which Fangraphs gives an 18.5 percent chance.

Either way, he's under big pressure to make the right decision.

Becoming buyers at the deadline with that low of a chance to make the playoffs could leave Hoyer looking foolish, especially when he could lose his trade chips for nothing.

Selling for the third year in a row when the team is close to making the playoffs doesn't give anyone a lot of confidence everything is moving in the right direction. Although, the past two deadline sales have netted the Cubs their top prospects according to Ken Rosenthal and Keith Law of The Athletic.

Rosenthal notes that Hoyer could split the difference and sell Stroman while keeping Bellinger, but that still comes with major risks.

With the trade deadline looming, there is a lot of pressure in Chicago to make sure they get things right before August 1st.

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