SAN FRANCISCO -- The Chicago Cubs have made a habit of making July trades under Theo Epstein, including acquisitions such as Jake Arrieta (2013), Addison Russell (2014), Aroldis Chapman (2016) and Jose Quintana (2017). This year should be no different, though there is the question as to what they have left in their farm system to use as bait and if it's enough to grab another big fish like the names above.
On paper, the Cubs could use a playoff-caliber starter, but they've gone down that road several times over the past 12 months, with varying degrees of success, in acquiring Quintana, Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood.