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Helsley, Maton, and Matz will draw significant interest due to their performance and expiring contracts. The rotation offers no similarly compelling choices and position players are vets w/NTCs, sell-low youth, or emerging keepers.

The first choice in the win-now vs. trade for future debate might hinge on the pen. Do the Cards trade...

All: Maximum return/no playoffs. The true reset move. Buyers need their ML talent for the push and not likely to give near-ready top prospects for rentals, unless the seller doubts their ability. Likely return is good prospects who need to develop, prolonging a return to prominence...think Liberatore. The haul from trading all greatly strengthens the foundation, if they choose wisely.

Some: Everything in moderation/just a little won't hurt. Get something for the future without conceding the present. Keep it somewhat fun and interesting by creating opportunity for young players to step up under the bright lights and pressure of a wild card race. Not a total loss if the team falls short and fans still have a little fun.

None: Future is now/I don’t watch MiLB! For those who still believe the playoffs are a crapshoot and if your team has a little talent and lot of heart, then fill those potholes or take out a second mortgage. High Risk because you get nothing for three expiring contracts and instant regret if you fall short.

I like option 3 (none) because the team has proven capable of beating good teams and plays strong defense that compliments and elevates the pitching. I also expect FO to make moderate moves that help but don't completely mortgage the future, whatever that looks like.

All

Trade Helsley and Matz (before he gets injured again!)

Try and extend maton if possible. If not trade.

All

Winning a weak division and getting bounced in the first round is not prominence.

Build for long term, consistent success…

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 09:53 am All

Respect your position because it could build a powerhouse for the future. Just hope they choose wisely because it will cripple the bullpen so severely there is no way they continue to compete for a winnable division this year.

Kind of unfortunate that our most viable and valuable chips are all in the pen. If they were spread out a little more maybe they could better balance competing and rebuilding.

Absolut wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 09:55 am Trade Helsley and Matz (before he gets injured again!)

Try and extend maton if possible. If not trade.

Matz would be my choice in the “some” option because relying on him to stay healthy during his tenure has been frustrating.

Seems like when he’s at his best is when he gets injured. Feels like anytime now.

45s wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:09 am All

Winning a weak division and getting bounced in the first round is not prominence.

Build for long term, consistent success…

Who is guaranteed to bounce them so easily?

Winning any division is at least a ticket to the dance, with favorable seeding. Cards tough at home and seems to bring it against tougher teams.

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:13 am

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 09:53 am All

Respect your position because it could build a powerhouse for the future. Just hope they choose wisely because it will cripple the bullpen so severely there is no way they continue to compete for a winnable division this year.

Kind of unfortunate that our most viable and valuable chips are all in the pen. If they were spread out a little more maybe they could better balance competing and rebuilding.

I know it seems close right now, but I don't see the division as winnable. I think the Cubs will win the division by more than 5 games over the second place team. Even if we went the route where we didn't trade anyone away and tried to add- I believe the adds will be so incremental as to be insignificant. The Cubs, on the other hand, will be one of the most improved teams after the deadline in my opinion. I think they will swing for the fences. In our first 5 series after the deadline we play the Padres and Dodgers on the road, the Rockies, Yankees, and then Cubs. These teams (less the Rockies) will be improved versions of what we see now. I'm enjoying the team right now, but have no illusions about winning the division. We're getting there. We aren't there yet. Use the opportunity to get better.

Some

I don't think any of those guys by themselves will actually return too much, except maybe Helsley. I'd be open to trading Helsley and keeping the other two, but only if the return is significant. Agree with whoever said extend Maton.

I continue to think the best thing they can do this deadline is exchange position player congestion for pitching, with an eye towards 2026 and beyond. If they're able to get a RH OF for at least 2026 without giving up any pitching, that'd be good as well.

45s wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:09 am All

Winning a weak division and getting bounced in the first round is not prominence.

Build for long term, consistent success…

I thi k we should stick to the plan and the plan was for this to be a reset year. Dont trade away any future.

But there is absolutely no basis to call the central a weak division thus far in the year.

4 of the 5 teams are over .500 and 2 of the 3rd wild cards wpuld.be from the central if the season ended today.

While the pirates are bad, the west teams get to beat up on an even weaker rockies team and 0 wildcards wpuld be from west right now. The east only has 2 teams over .500 with the 3rd place team being 7 games under. The nlc has been one of the strongest divisions in baseball this year. That cpuld change by years end but theres no basis to saying its weak currently

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:24 am

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:13 am

Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 09:53 am All

Respect your position because it could build a powerhouse for the future. Just hope they choose wisely because it will cripple the bullpen so severely there is no way they continue to compete for a winnable division this year.

Kind of unfortunate that our most viable and valuable chips are all in the pen. If they were spread out a little more maybe they could better balance competing and rebuilding.

I know it seems close right now, but I don't see the division as winnable. I think the Cubs will win the division by more than 5 games over the second place team. Even if we went the route where we didn't trade anyone away and tried to add- I believe the adds will be so incremental as to be insignificant. The Cubs, on the other hand, will be one of the most improved teams after the deadline in my opinion. I think they will swing for the fences. In our first 5 series after the deadline we play the Padres and Dodgers on the road, the Rockies, Yankees, and then Cubs. These teams (less the Rockies) will be improved versions of what we see now. I'm enjoying the team right now, but have no illusions about winning the division. We're getting there. We aren't there yet. Use the opportunity to get better.

Fair assessment. I’m a little less optimistic about Cubs as it stands right now but many think they’ll be hyper aggressive because they’ll be more all-in at the deadline because of their investment in Tucker. If they improve equal or more than us, they probably will run away.

3dender wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:28 am Some

I don't think any of those guys by themselves will actually return too much, except maybe Helsley. I'd be open to trading Helsley and keeping the other two, but only if the return is significant. Agree with whoever said extend Maton.

I continue to think the best thing they can do this deadline is exchange position player congestion for pitching, with an eye towards 2026 and beyond. If they're able to get a RH OF for at least 2026 without giving up any pitching, that'd be good as well.

Strong argument for Some. It will take a bold move regarding position players because the ones with value and are still considered by many as keepers and have remaining team control. Burleson, Donovan, Herrera and Scott fit that category. Walker and Gorman are low-sells at this point, and Noot somewhere in-between maybe. Gotta give to get though.

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 12:01 pm

3dender wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:28 am Some

I don't think any of those guys by themselves will actually return too much, except maybe Helsley. I'd be open to trading Helsley and keeping the other two, but only if the return is significant. Agree with whoever said extend Maton.

I continue to think the best thing they can do this deadline is exchange position player congestion for pitching, with an eye towards 2026 and beyond. If they're able to get a RH OF for at least 2026 without giving up any pitching, that'd be good as well.

Strong argument for Some. It will take a bold move regarding position players because the ones with value and are still considered by many as keepers and have remaining team control. Burleson, Donovan, Herrera and Scott fit that category. Walker and Gorman are low-sells at this point, and Noot somewhere in-between maybe. Gotta give to get though.

They can clear congestion from multiple levels though. I've probably gotten annoying in pointing out that Jimmy Crooks and Chase Davis are two very obvious trade candidates.

If you package both of them with one of Noot/Burleson/Gorman/Walker and maybe even add Saggese, that is quite a lot of value you could expect back.

For the Some/All crowd. Suggestions welcome on how to fix the would-be broken bullpen. Internal candidates, trade targets, etc.

A couple nods to extending Maton, which would be an excellent start. We’ll need to fix it fast because the pitching and lineup seem well on their way.

SP has some underperformance/dead weight but McGreevy looks like a possible first solution.

It would be a shame to have both strong SP and lineup next year with a bullpen blowing a bunch of games.

3dender wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 12:14 pm

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 12:01 pm

3dender wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 10:28 am Some

I don't think any of those guys by themselves will actually return too much, except maybe Helsley. I'd be open to trading Helsley and keeping the other two, but only if the return is significant. Agree with whoever said extend Maton.

I continue to think the best thing they can do this deadline is exchange position player congestion for pitching, with an eye towards 2026 and beyond. If they're able to get a RH OF for at least 2026 without giving up any pitching, that'd be good as well.

Strong argument for Some. It will take a bold move regarding position players because the ones with value and are still considered by many as keepers and have remaining team control. Burleson, Donovan, Herrera and Scott fit that category. Walker and Gorman are low-sells at this point, and Noot somewhere in-between maybe. Gotta give to get though.

They can clear congestion from multiple levels though. I've probably gotten annoying in pointing out that Jimmy Crooks and Chase Davis are two very obvious trade candidates.

If you package both of them with one of Noot/Burleson/Gorman/Walker and maybe even add Saggese, that is quite a lot of value you could expect back.

Doesn’t annoy me. I’m all for trading guys on the farm when the position is good to go on the big team, or if there are other options in the minors. Bernal comes to mind in the case for trading Crooks.

CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2025 12:15 pm For the Some/All crowd. Suggestions welcome on how to fix the would-be broken bullpen. Internal candidates, trade targets, etc.

A couple nods to extending Maton, which would be an excellent start. We’ll need to fix it fast because the pitching and lineup seem well on their way.

SP has some underperformance/dead weight but McGreevy looks like a possible first solution.

It would be a shame to have both strong SP and lineup next year with a bullpen blowing a bunch of games.

Ryan Fernandez has bounced back at AAA, and Granillo is solid.

Fernandez over last two months has a .580 batter's OPS with 34 Ks in 25.2 innings and 3.86 ERA. Over the last month it's .508 OPS, 2.57 ERA, and 14 Ks in 14 innings.