The Cubs’ pursuit of Tarik Skubal says plenty about where this front office is willing to go now - and why the Dodgers kept coming up as the cleaner fit.
After years of criticism that Jed Hoyer leaned too hard into patience and long-term planning, Chicago’s deadline approach looked different. The Cubs came out of last week as one of the big winners, having attacked their roster needs with a busy haul that included Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Tyrone Taylor, Braxton Garrett and Ryan Zeferjahn. That group filled holes across the roster and gave the club a real push for the stretch run.
Skubal, though, was the prize Chicago could not land.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subcription required), the Cubs “made virtually all of their young players available,” but still never got close to a deal with the Tigers. Rosenthal also pointed out that Jefferson Rojas, who ended up going to the Mets in the trade that brought back Holmes and Taylor, is not viewed on the same level as Zyhir Hope, who became the centerpiece in the Dodgers’ blockbuster.
That detail matters because it underscores the broader picture: the Cubs were willing to stretch, but their system still doesn’t have the kind of elite upper-level prospect that can close a deal of that magnitude. In that sense, the failed Skubal chase feels less like a lack of effort and more like a snapshot of where the farm stands right now.
There is good news there, too. Chicago’s prospect base has taken real steps forward this year, and the front office kept most of that group intact at the deadline. By the end of the season, the rankings could look different thanks to breakout years from Owen Ayers, Kane Kepley and Josiah Hartshorn.
Still, the top-end talent isn’t fully there yet. Ayers has surged all the way to Triple-A Iowa, but this is his first extended run of success in the minors, and the league will want to see more before buying in completely.
Kepley just reached Double-A and brings an interesting skill set, while Hartshorn remains at High-A. Both could land on top-100 lists soon enough, but they are not there yet.
So the Cubs have pieces. They have depth.
They have momentum. What they do not quite have, at least for now, is that finished prospect headliner who turns a monster trade pursuit into a done deal.
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For Cubs fans, that adds another layer to an already important stretch for the organization. Hawkins has been part of the group steering the team through its recent roster build, and any interest from other clubs would only raise the stakes on how Chicago handles the months ahead. Nothing has been announced, but even the possibility of losing a key voice from the front office makes this a storyline worth watching as the offseason approaches. [Read more 🡒]
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Ian Happ's Slump Put A Bigger Cubs Outfield Decision In Focus
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The bigger issue for Chicago is what comes next in the outfield, where the long-term plan is still taking shape as the year unfolds. Seiya Suzuki has put together a strong offensive season, and with both corner outfield spots tied to future uncertainty, Happs surge arrives at a moment when every good week matters. The Cubs have not announced any decisions, but the way this group is valued going forward is already starting to feel like one of the more important choices on the board. [Read more 🡒]