Despite similar record to SF Giants, Chicago Cubs confirm plans to sell at deadline

The SF Giants have not picked a direction yet for the MLB trade deadline. However, the Chicago Cubs, with a similar record to the Giants, recently announced their plans to focus on 2025 and beyond.

Despite similar record to SF Giants, Chicago Cubs confirm plans to sell at deadline

Cubs top executive Jed Hoyer told Jesse Rogers of ESPN on Monday that if they do not go on a winning streak over the next week, then the moves they make will focus on improving the roster beyond this season.

The Cubs are one of the many teams stuck in the middle. The Giants are in the same boat. With a 48-53 record, they are on the outside looking in.

San Francisco is only four games behind the New York Mets for the third Wild Card spot. That is an uphill battle, but it is not impossible to climb in the final two months of the season.

However, five teams separate the Giants and the Mets at the moment. They need the Mets to slump to the finish line as well as many other teams. It is not impossible, but the odds are not in their favor.

The Cubs are among the teams that are currently in front of the Giants in the standings. Their struggles have been odd to observe from afar. Of course, when the Giants faced off against them, they struggled with situational hitting and made some baserunning gaffes. In a way, not too dissimilar from San Francisco.

However, they have a 3.68 rotation ERA in 2024, which is eighth-best in baseball. They have four starting pitchers who have made at least 15 starts with a 3.15 ERA or better. Typically, teams go as far as their starting pitching takes them.

However, the bullpen and offense have lagged far behind, forcing them to focus on next season and beyond.

Unlike Chicago, the Giants do not have a good rotation yet. They have been hoping that the return of their veteran starters such as Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb will lead to a second-half surge. Ray is returning this week and Cobb is not too far behind. After a slow start and injuries, Blake Snell has been excellent in his last three outings.

Even if they begin to turn it around, could it be too late? The Giants have already played more than 100 games this year. They are banking on some players not only returning from major injury, but being effective right away while doing so.

That is a risk that the front office really has no other option but to make. Selling may be tough because it would be an admission that the roster is not good enough to compete again. After six seasons, it would be hard to envision Farhan Zaidi keeping his job if the team sells and slumps down the stretch. That may be one of the things that prevents them from selling.

They may not be in a position to buy either. The Cubs have seemingly picked a path for the remainder of the season. Despite similar results, the Giants may not be able to pursue a similar path.