In a little over a month, the AL and NL teams will square off in the Midsummer Classic.

So…who will be the Cubs’ All-Star?

Notice I said “All-Star” singular. As it stands right now, it might be difficult to envision multiple Cubs players crack the NL roster (though, admittedly, that might be recency bias given the team’s tough stretch).

Which is not what anybody expected just two short months ago.

Entering the 2026 season, expectations were high on the Cubs and the team’s top players — and not just expectations in Chicago. Those around the game also thought the Cubs would have a big season.

It played out that way for about six weeks, but this team has been well below .500 (7-20) over the last month.

That has severely impacted the Cubs’ All-Star options. Let’s go position-by-position to evaluate players who may end up on the NL squad next month.

Pitching staff

During the last few weeks, the numbers have cratered for the Cubs’ individual players.

Shota Imanaga is a perfect example. On May 13, he looked to be on the outskirts of the NL Cy Young conversation and carried a strong case for an All-Star bid with a 2.32 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 54.1 innings across 9 starts, allowing just 5 home runs.

But since then, he has a shocking 10.80 ERA while serving up 12 homers over his last 4 starts.

Matthew Boyd — one of the Cubs’ All-Stars a year ago — has been on the IL twice with separate injuries and has made only 5 starts this season.

Jameson Taillon (5.19 ERA), Edward Cabrera (4.99) and Colin Rea (4.59) have not pitched to All-Star-caliber levels, either.

But the newest member of the rotation — Ben Brown — has, and represents the team’s best bet to make the All-Star team.

Brown began the year in the bullpen before moving into the rotation when Boyd hit the IL a second time in early May.

In 18 games (6 starts), the 26-year-old right-hander has been lights-out, pitching to a 1.74 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 57 innings.

Brown is aware of his place in the All-Star conversation, which he acknowledged would be an honor.

There are two problems working against him, however. One is that he has only been in the rotation for about a month. The second is an extremely crowded NL pitching field.

Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski are on historic runs and yet Shohei Ohtani still might be the best pitcher in the NL. Then there’s Paul Skenes, Chris Sale, Chase Burns, Kyle Harrison and a host of other arms who have viable cases to make the All-Star roster.

Brown is 10th in WAR among NL pitchers with at least 50 innings. But every pitcher around him has been in the rotation all season.

Beyond the starting staff, the Cubs bullpen likely doesn’t have an All-Star candidate. Daniel Palencia has been effective once again, but he was on the IL for several weeks and only has 3 saves. Jacob Webb has been really good of late, but does not have the dominant overall stat line needed for a setup reliever to make the All-Star team.

Catcher

Carson Kelly is having an OK season, but his lack of power (just 2 homers) will likely take him out of the All-Star conversation.

The NL can choose from Drake Baldwin, William Contreras and Hunter Goodman for the roster, plus Marlins breakout backstop Liam Hicks or well-known Dodgers catcher Will Smith serve as other options.

Infield

Nico Hoerner looked to have a strong case to be in All-Star consideration at second base, as he was hitting .300/.377/.457 (.834 OPS) with 4 homers and 27 RBI through the Cubs’ first 36 games.

But since then, he is hitting just .185/.276/.218 (.495 OPS) with 0 homers and only 6 RBI through the team’s last 30 games.

Even if Hoerner went on a hot stretch over the next month or so until the roster is announced, it would be hard to see him surpassing some of the other second base options in the NL (Brice Turang, Luis Arraez, Brandon Lowe, J.J. Wetherholt).

Shortstop is an interesting position in the NL, as some of the top players (Elly De La Cruz, Konnor Griffin) are currently injured and it’s unknown whether they will be back in time to partake in the All-Star Game should they earn a spot.

Miami’s Otto Lopez and Washington’s C.J. Abrams are having strong seasons, and both should end up in the Midsummer Classic next month.

But Dansby Swanson might actually not be far off from an All-Star bid, which would come as a major shock to Cubs fans. He is hitting just .180, but is actually 6th among NL shortstops in fWAR (1.1) thanks to his defense. And two of the players ahead of him are the aforementioned injured young stars (De La Cruz, Griffin).

Swanson is also tied for 5th among NL shortstops in homers, ranks 5th in runs scored and 6th in RBI. If he goes on a multi-week hot streak (something he is still capable of), he could put himself back in the conversation.

Other top NL shortstops (Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, Geraldo Perdomo, Willy Adames, Bo Bichette) have struggled with either injury or ineffectiveness this season and actually rank behind Swanson in terms of WAR and other offensive stats.

The same logic applies to third base in the NL. Alex Bregman has obviously gotten off to a disappointing start to the season, but he’s not alone in that.

Manny Machado is hitting just .169 while fellow veterans Austin Riley and Matt Chapman have yet to get going this season.

Nolan Arenado is having a bit of a resurgent year with the Arizona Diamondbacks and could be an All-Star candidate. Max Muncy looks like a shoe-in at this point. Reds rookie Sal Stewart has had a really good year so far, but he has seen far more time at first base (44 games) than third base (21 games).

Bregman — who ranks 5th among NL third baseman in fWAR — is clearly not an All-Star at the moment, but his defense and on-base skills are still solid and an offensive hot stretch could do quite a bit to change his case.

Michael Busch is currently in one such hot stretch, slashing .295/.432/.492 (.924 OPS) with 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBI since May 1. That has helped his overall numbers look a lot better after a rough start to the year.

But first base in the NL is a crowded field when it comes to the All-Star conversation. Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman look like strong bets based on their stats and their name value.

If three first basemen make the NL roster, Busch will have to contend with other bubble players like Bryce Harper, Stewart, Alec Burleson, Jake Bauers and Spencer Horwitz.

Outfield

Pete Crow-Armstrong is proof that a good run offensively can make a big impact on a player’s All-Star case. He got off to an extremely slow start to the season and has generally turned things around since the first week of April.

But Crow-Armstrong has reached another level over the last month, hitting .284/.388/.541 (.929 OPS) since May 5 with 8 homers and 19 RBI.

Thanks to that run and his elite defense, Crow-Armstrong leads all NL outfielders in fWAR. His popularity and notoriety around the game may also earn him a hefty share of votes from fans as a potential starter (he started in center field last season).

Ian Happ has a stronger case than some might realize, too. He is currently 7th in the NL among outfielders in fWAR and ranks 4th in homers and runs scored.

Will that be enough for Happ to overcome the rest of the crowded NL outfield field?

Seiya Suzuki‘s early-season injury and recent slump appear to take him out of All-Star consideration. He will enter play Tuesday with 9 homers, 21 RBI and a .752 OPS.

Consider: Suzuki didn’t even make the All-Star team last year despite a banner first half that included 25 homers, 77 RBI and an .867 OPS.

Final thoughts

Right now, it looks like Crow-Armstrong and Brown have the best chances to crack the NL roster. If they continue their performance, it’s certainly possible we might see both players in Philadelphia next month.

Busch and Happ could emerge as other contenders as the All-Star discussion develops over the next few weeks.

This is very well deserved.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Your AL and NL Players of the Week for June 1-7:

Yordan Alvarez: 10-for-21 (.476 AVG), 2 HR, 9 RBI
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 11-for-25 (.440 AVG), 4 HR, 6 RBI pic.twitter.com/67ZCEleqGz

— MLB (@MLB) June 8, 2026

PCA has been on an offensive tear for a while now, but this week really was some of his finest work. Sadly, he couldn’t come through in the clutch last night for yet another walk-off last night, but he was able to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. And during that 12-game stretch, he’s slashing a ridiculous .392/.456/.745 (236 wRC+), with three doubles, five homers, two stolen bases, and just a 24.6% strikeout rate.

He’s also tearing the COVER off the ball with a 94.4 MPH average exit velocity, a 24.3% barrel rate, and a 59.5% hard-hit rate. Those are video game peripherals, providing real support for the video game numbers he’s been posting.

But you should know by now that this isn’t merely some tiny sample spark. He may have won the award for this week, but you can go back OVER 200 PAs now to April 14 and find a bona-fide superstar.

1 2 3

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong  ·  Tap the numbers to explore

PCA Since April 14 (209 PAs)

• .278/.373/.506 (149 wRC+, 20th in MLB)
• 10 HRs, 10 SBs
• 9.6 BB%, 23.4 K%
• 91.9 MPH EV (25th in MLB)
• 14.4 Barrel% (24th in MLB)
• 52.3 Hard% (17th in MLB)

Basically, after a quiet start to the season, PCA has been easily one of the top-20 or so offensive players in the game, while also being arguably the best defensive player at one of the premier defensive positions. And that's why, when you add it all up with his speed, he's currently the TOP National League Position Player in terms of fWAR, and second only to Bobby Witt Jr. in all of MLB.

1. Bobby Witt Jr.: 3.1 WAR
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2.9 WAR
3. Nick Kurtz: 2.3 WAR
4. Yordan Alvarez: 2.2 WAR
5. Cody Bellinger: 2.2 WAR
6. 4-players tied: 2.1 WAR

You can't exclude Shohei Ohtani, though, whose combined pitcher/hitter WAR exceeds all. Just need to point that out before you start dreaming about awards. Lol.

Nonetheless, I can tell you that right now, and for the vast majority of this season, Pete Crow-Armstrong is looking every bit as much of a superstar as we thought he was in the first half of 2025. He may be well behind his 30-30 homer pace from last season, but he actually looks even better at the plate to me this year.

Aside from better batted ball metrics, he's also swinging at fewer pitches out of the zone, making more contact with the strikes thrown to him, and he's whiffing less overall. And check out the progress he's made versus left-handed pitching:

2025: .188/.217/.376 (59 wRC+)
2026: .289/.379/.434 (135 wRC+)

That is night and day. He basically took his biggest weakness (lefties) and made it a strength, while putting a huge dent in his next biggest weakness (chasing bad pitches). And when it all aligns with some adjustments to his setup in the box and fantastic peripherals, you can really start to believe it's sustainable.

He's also made his impact matter: 1.87 Win Probability Added ranks 11th best in MLB, as does his 0.93 CLUTCH factor.

Shaping up to be a very, very nice season for PCA. And I bet this isn't the last award like this he gets this season. Good for him.

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code NATION

You can enter the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code NATION to claim the $1K bonus. You can make 1 wager each day of up to $100 for 10 days straight. Fanatics Sportsbook matches that bet in FanCash. That’s up to $1,000 in FanCash over 10 days. Must be 21+, and you can’t withdraw your bonus. More terms are at the bottom of this post.

New to betting? See our guides

Phillies at Blue Jays Odds

The Blue Jays and Phillies hit the field at 7:07 pm ET tonight to start a 3-game series in Toronto. The Phillies are a -175 moneyline favorite according to Fanatics Sportsbook, while the Blue Jays are a +145 underdog. The total is 7.5 runs, and the Phillies have odds of +100 to cover at -1.5 run line. Philly is just 11-18 against the run line on the road this season. Take a look at the game odds from Fanatics Sportsbook.

Home Run Odds Including Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber is the MLB leader in home runs with 23, and he has driven in 40 runs this season. He leads the home run odds at +280, and he hasn’t homered since June 3 against the Padres. Schwarber is 6/22 with 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 6 walks against Patrick Corbin in his career. Adolis Garcia and Bryce Harper are second in home run odds for tonight at +500. Take a look at more home run odds for this game from Fanatics Sportsbook.

Cristopher Sanchez Faces Patrick Corbin

The pitching matchup features Cristopher Sanchez against Patrick Corbin. Sanchez is 7-2 with a 1.46 ERA and has been insanely good this season. In his last start, he finally gave up a run after going 50 and 2/3 innings scoreless. He went 7 innings and struck out 8 with 1 earned run in a win over the Padres. Sanchez has 103 strikeouts in 86.1 innings.

Corbin is 2-2 this season with a 3.98 ERA in 11 starts. He is coming off giving up 4 earned runs against the Braves in a loss on June 3. He gave up a home run, walked 2, and had just 1 strikeout in that game. Corbin has 37 strikeouts in 54.1 innings this season.

Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Code Bonus Terms

The Fanatics Sportsbook promo code offer has terms. These need to be followed to get your bonus. Here is what you need to know.

• Opt in inside your bet slip.
• Your bet can be a maximum of $100 each day.
• The odds have to be -200 or greater.
• The bet is matched in FanCash ($100 max/day).
• The promo allows 1 bet each day for 10 days.
• The promo begins after you sign up.
• 21+.
• FanCash expires in 7 days.
• More terms are listed below…

New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY. Apply promotion in bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting day of account creation. FanCash rewards will equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash/day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, incl. FanCash terms, apply—see Fanatics Sportsbook app.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Responsible Gaming Resources

BetMGM Bonus Code BNNEWSGET

Use the BetMGM bonus code BNNEWSGET to unlock the $1K promo. You can make up to a $100 wager each day for 10 days. If you lose any of your bets, you get the money back as bonus bets thanks to No Sweat Tokens! You need to be 21+ and a new user. More details are listed at the end of this post.

If you are looking for a different offer, use the BetMGM bonus code BN1550. This claims $1,500 in bonuses and $50 in BetMGM Rewards points. New users can only claim one offer.

New to betting? See our guides

Fever at Mystics Odds

The Fever take on the Mystics at 7 pm ET tonight, and you can watch the game on Peacock. The Fever are a -5.5 spread favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and they have a -220 moneyline. The Mystics are a +180 underdog at home. The Fever are just 5-5 against the spread this season. The Mytics are 5-4 ATS. Check out the game odds from BetMGM for this matchup.

Caitlin Clark is Probable for Tonight

Caitlin Clark is listed as probable for tonight’s game as she continues to deal with a lingering back issue. The back hasn’t kept her out of the last 5 games, and it is looking like she will be in the lineup tonight. Clark is scoring 18.7 points per game this season while dishing out 8.2 assists. She hasn’t been great from the field or three so far this season. She is shooting 37.7% from the field and 32.4% from deep. She is coming off a 4/14 performance against the Liberty on Saturday, where she scored 10 points. She had 9 assists and 7 rebounds in the 83-75 loss.

Who Scores First?

The Mystics are coming off a 109-77 blowout loss. They didn’t score first in that game as they gave up a 2-point bucket to Rhyne Howard. In the Fever’s loss to the Liberty, they did score first as Kelsey Mitchell hit a 20-foot jumper that was assisted by Caitlin Clark. Mitchell is +500 to score first in tonight’s game according to BetMGM, while Clark is +850. Shakira Austin leads the first basket odds for both teams at +375. Check out more first-basket odds for this matchup from BetMGM.

BetMGM Bonus Code Details to Note

There are a few terms and conditions for this BetMGM bonus code that you need to pay attention to. This will make sure you claim the full bonus. Here is what you need to know.

• New user promo.
• 21+ only.
• You have to make a deposit.
• You get 1 No Sweat Token each day for 10 days.
• You can bet a max of $100 with each token.
• If you lose your wager, you get bonus bets paid back.
• Up to $1K in bonus bets paid back over 10 days.
• See more terms below…

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Please Gamble Responsibly. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. New player offer for new players only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in NJ, MA, MI, NV, NY, ON, PA, PR, and WV.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. AZ, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY.Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements. Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. US Promotional Offers Not Available in MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. BRPs can be converted to MGM Reward Points, Marriot Bonvoy Points, merchandise and more.

Responsible Gaming Resources

bet365 Bonus Code

You can claim the bet365 bonus code by registering above. On your first wager, place a $10 bet. This gets you $365 in bonus bets no matter what happens. Also, you need to make sure the odds are -500 or greater for the wager. You need to be 21+ unless in Kentucky (18+). Check out more details at the end of this article.

*The bet365 bonus code can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way.

Spurs at Knicks Odds for Game 3

The Spurs and Knicks meet at Madison Square Garden tonight at 8:30 pm ET for a huge Game 3. After being underdogs in the first 2 games, the Knicks are a slight favorite with a spread of -2.5 according to bet365 Sportsbook. The Knicks are a -130 moneyline while the Spurs are a +110 underdog on the road. The Knicks have won their last 13 games. They are 12-1 against the spread during this run and have covered their last 8 games. Check out the game odds from bet365.

Learn more about betting with our guides

Knicks Hold a 2-0 Lead

As the NBA Finals head back to Madison Square Garden, many NBA fans are shocked to see New York holding a 2-0 lead in the series. In Game 2, the Knicks held off a late Spurs rally, and Victor Wembanyama missed a go-ahead jumper in the 105-104 win for New York. It was a wild finish that saw Wemby pass the ball off Stephon Castle’s back for a turnover with the game tied in the final 10 seconds. Jalen Brunson then hit 1/2 free throws before Wemby missed a game-winning shot. It has been a crazy series so far.

The Knicks made 15 threes in the win while the Spurs were 11/29 (38%) from deep. The Spurs shot much better from the field in Game 2 and had a strong 4th quarter where they stormed back from a double-digit deficit.

How Many Points Will Brunson Score?

Victor Wembanyama led all scorers with 29 points in Game 2, and he added 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. He is -200 to score at least 25 points tonight and +135 to score 30 according to bet365 Sportsbook. Jalen Brunson was 7/25 with 20 points and 6 assists in Game 2, and he is listed at -155 to score at least 25 points in tonight’s game. Karl-Anthony Towns was solid for the Knicks on Friday as he had 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. Take a look at more point props from bet365 Sportsbook for this game.

bet365 Bonus Code Details and Terms

You need to understand the bet365 bonus code terms and conditions before you claim it. This is because there are details you need to follow to get your bonus. Check out the details.

• You must be a new user.
• Legal bet365 states only.
• Must make a deposit (Min. $10).
• You need to wager at least $10.
• Odds have to be -500 or longer.
• You get $365 in bonus bets.
• 21+ except in KY (18+).
• The bonus cannot be withdrawn.

Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. This code is used for marketing and tracking purposes only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Responsible Gaming Resources

The NFL teased its upcoming list of the league’s 100 best players. It is a list that is voted on by the league’s players. And if you’ve been paying attention to how folks around the NFL have been talking about the Chicago Bears quarterback, then you won’t have to work your brain hard to imagine that Williams will get some consideration. However, I didn’t see this coming:

https://t.co/rx3EOiUlPb pic.twitter.com/pNqBerxOA7

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) June 8, 2026

Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons mentioning The Iceman in response to a question about who the No. 1 player will be on this year’s list stopped me in my tracks. Maybe there is some selective editing and framing going on here by the NFL production team. Even if it is, that is high praise coming from one of the league’s best defensive players and a rival who is going to be facing Caleb Williams and the Bears twice a year (at least!) for the foreseeable future.

Who’s No. 1: Where Will Caleb Williams Rank on the NFL’s Top 100 List?

The NFL’s Top 100 Players list is voted on by players and drops during the summer before the league kicks off its season. Because the Bears haven’t been great in recent years, there hasn’t been much representation by Chicago’s football team. Then again, Justin Fields made the list in 2023. So it’s not as if this is uncharted territory. But still … he wasn’t getting the praise that Micah Parsons just lobbed in Caleb Williams’ direction.

CALEB WILLIAMS ON IF HE’LL BEAT THE MADDEN CURSE: “DAMN RIGHT”

Williams’ second year as a pro included highlights such as setting the Bears’ single-season franchise record for passing yards, a whoppiing six fourth-quarter comebacks, winning the team’s first NFC North titlle since 2018, and picking up its first postseason win since January 2011. Given those credentials, I can see Chicago’s QB1 getting a bunch of votes on the top-100 list. Maybe he will even have the type of staying power that his predecessor didn’t have.

In the end, I can’t stop thinking about how this is not going to go over well among Packers fans when they see that Micah Parsons mentioning Caleb Williams as one of the league’s best players. I wonder where he will have Packers Jordan Love on the list. Where would he rank himself? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.

MORE BEARS TALK ON OUR PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

The 21-year-old Chicago Cubs infield prospect was, not all that long ago, the brightest potential long-term shining star in the farm system, and got an appropriate volume of doting. But, thanks to the natural cycle of prospect hype – plus his young age at an advanced level – plus a couple other major position player breakouts this year, Rojas just hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention as is justified.

I seek to change that. Well, actually, Jefferson Rojas seeks to change that:

WALK-OFF!! Smokies win 8-7 #FlyTheW

Jefferson Rojas sends us home in the bottom of the 11th! pic.twitter.com/AS2UQ4BMap

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 6, 2026

Jefferson Rojas
110 mph off the bat. pic.twitter.com/Uzlx4m6Zol

— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) June 7, 2026

SPECIAL DELIVERY TO THE THIRD DECK 💣

Jefferson Rojas becomes the first Smokie in the HISTORY of Covenant Health Park to slam a homer off of the Yardley Flats 😳 pic.twitter.com/X4Ls2Lo7eF

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 6, 2026

Jefferson Rojas builds on his weekend tear with another big fly!

The @Cubs' top prospect has eight hits, three homers and six RBIs over his past four games for Double-A @smokiesbaseball. pic.twitter.com/RP75TtlqhD

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 7, 2026

So that is Jefferson Rojas with the walk-off winner, the first homer off the building across from the Smokies’ ballpark, another homer at 110 mph off the bat, and yet another homer. All in three days.

Despite being much younger than the league average (and a shortstop, to boot), Rojas is now hitting .269/.346/.497/128 wRC+ at Double-A this year, with his typically sterling peripherals (10.5% BB, 20.0% K, 25.6% line drive, 38.0% groundball, .228 ISO). Over the last two weeks, it’s a silly .378/.431/.800/216 wRC+ slash line.

Thanks to Pedro Ramirez’s transformation at Triple-A (and ascendence to the big league roster) and Josiah Hartshorn doing impossible things in his pro debut, it’s been a little harder to slide in those Jefferson Rojas shouts. Good problem to have.

That said, Rojas is still a back-end top-100 prospect (and he should be climbing), and he’s blowing up at Double-A after having been exposed there a bit last year. He took those struggles (mostly, he wasn’t making quality contact) into the offseason, tweaked his swing, and looked outstanding in Spring Training. From there, he’s doing what he needs to do at Double-A to have a shot at Triple-A by the end of the year.

×

Three-Day Tear

Walk-off winner in the 11th, a 110 mph homer, and the first home run ever launched off Yardley Flats — all in three days.

×

Double-A Breakout

Rojas is hitting .269/.346/.497 with a 128 wRC+ at Double-A this year. Over the last two weeks: a silly .378/.431/.800 with a 216 wRC+.

×

Swing Reworked

After last year’s struggles at Double-A, Rojas tweaked his swing in the offseason, looked outstanding in Spring Training, and is now doing what he needs to do for a shot at Triple-A by year’s end.

1 2 3

Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images · Tap the numbers to explore

I suppose the other reason Rojas hasn't gotten as much attention this year as you might expect is because it isn't a situation where we can CLEARLY dream on him Taking Spot X on the big league team next year or the year after or whatever. With Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner locked into long-term deals, plus the emergence of Pedro Ramirez to join Matt Shaw as next-guys-up, the internal picture for Rojas is a little cloudy long-term. That isn't a problem and there's no rush to make a decision ASAP (especially since we don't know who among that group will still be a starter in a couple years); I'm just saying that, when it comes to prospect chatter, that tends to quiet things down a bit.

To that end, something to note: although Rojas is a shortstop by trade, and is projectable there as a capable big leaguer, he has been seeing more time at third base this year than he has before (in years prior, his "other" spot was second base). Is that a recognition that eventually Rojas might have to move over? Just an attempt to get him more exposure to a newer spot, so that he's comfortable at all three places? I don't think it's because other prospects on the team are "forcing" him off shortstop regularly, for what that's worth.

Until I hear otherwise, I'm going to assume it's just a normal minor league thing as guys with big league-caliber bats get closer to some potential crowding. You give Rojas reps as many places as he can handle for now, you let him keep proving the bat is real at Double-A, and you figure out the ultimate spot(s) later. A lot can happen, but there is almost certainly no version of the next couple of years where the Cubs look back and say "we really wish we hadn't given Rojas exposure at multiple infield spots." It's not like he's going to forget how to play shortstop.

Anyway, that's mostly a side story for now, because nothing HAS TO happen on that front for a while yet. The main focus for Rojas is ensuring that the bat keeps developing, and so far this year - especially lately - he's been doing exactly what you'd hope.

Green Bay cornerback Keisean Nixon, who was a central figure in all three games last season, made some interesting comments during the team’s most recent batch of OTAs:

Keisean Nixon on the Bears: "Free smoke… They got to see us twice a year. I mean, they had a good year last year. It's their first time… They hate us more than we hate them… But our process is not the Chicago Bears. That's not our Super Bowl." #Packers #Bears pic.twitter.com/QuCmHscxDW

— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) June 3, 2026

Keisean Nixon on what he expects when these two rivals square off again:

“Free smoke. They’ve gotta see us twice a year. I mean, they had a good last year. It’s their first time. It’s cool. We’ll be ready. … They hate us more than we hate them. We’ve been worrying about other teams, you know? We worry about them now, though. They’re definitely a good football team. They’re coached well. They play hard. But our process is not the Chicago Bears. That’s not our Super Bowl. Our process is to win the North first. … The Bears is not like our thought process of the offseason. Like, who cares?

I don’t want to say we let them off the hook, but we didn’t finish as a team. So I think our mindset this year is to finish, and that’s our goal.”

These are mostly innocent words. Some of them are even complimentary. We probably should be doing a post on how even Green Bay players are saying nice things about Ben Johnson. However, I can’t look past the revisionist history that Nixon is trying to get into here. Because, if you’ll recall, the That Team In Wisconsin wrote a lot checks in the days leading up to their playoff loss at Soldier Field in Chicago that they were unable to cash on game day.

There’s nothing like a Bears-Packers War of Words

A quick trip down memory lane:

• “I didn’t want nobody else. I wanted the Bears. I’d rather play the Bears first. I need a get back.” -Keisean Nixon

• “I definitely wanted to play the Bears. If I had my pick for any team, it would have definitely been the Bears. I want my get-back for sure. We get a chance to put the Bears’ season to bed. That means a lot to us.” -Christian Watson

• “We are not going to be done, so I will see you guys next week.” -Jeff Hafley

MUST-WATCH: Caleb Williams’ Postgame Speech After Beating the Playoff Win

Green Bay’s players and coaches certainly talked the talk leading up to that one. And I loved it. This is the healthiest this rivalry has been in quite some time. But not only did they fail to walk the walk, one of the key players in last year’s games is walking it back. Sigh. Come on, man. What are we doing here? Just because your team lost doesn’t mean the things you said didn’t happen. You and your teammates clearly wanted the smoke, so why act like you didn’t? Let this be a reminder to be careful what you wish for because you might get it.

MORE BEARS TALK ON THE PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

If the Cubs sell, who could they sell and why?

Well, there are a few ways to think about this. First, the expiring contracts. There are a lot of them, and they could conceivably play a big role. Second would be the cost-controlled players that could make some sense. Here’s who I’d think would be available in each group. But I’ll warn you right now, the Cubs are probably still just as likely to add as subtract. And even if they do go for more of a subtraction approach, Jed Hoyer could still look to add cost-controlled talent because the team should be competitive next season.

The Rentals

As I mentioned, the Cubs have a relatively large number of rental players on this team, including two starting outfielders, three starting pitchers, a starting catcher, and a handful of relievers. Unfortunately, some of these guys come with no-trade clauses, which complicates matters.

Ian Happ, OF

For as divisive as Ian Happ is among some Cubs fans, I don’t think the league undervalues him at all. This season, he’s not hitting for average, but he’s getting on base, slugging, and playing his usual solid + defense in left field. He’s also a switch-hitter and a veteran. If a team needed outfield help, they would not hesitate to go after Happ.

Stats: .232/.347/.485 (133 wRC+); 1.8 WAR
Salary: $19M
No-Trade Clause: Yes

Happ is also on a bit of a heater at the moment, slashing .318/.348/.750 (202 wRC+) with five doubles, a triple, four homers, and a strikeout rate under 29% since May 27. If he continues on that path (obviously not to THAT extent), he’ll have plenty of interested parties at the deadline. Whether the Cubs could convince him to waive his no-trade clause, however, is a different story altogether.

Seiya Suzuki, OF

In theory, Seiya Suzuki should have more value than Ian Happ, but I’m just not sure I buy that at the moment. Suzuki looks generally lost at the plate this year, especially in key/big moments. In fact, he’s been one of the least clutch players in baseball.

Stats: .247/.336/.416 (112 wRC+)
Salary: $19M (~$6-7M at the deadline)
No-Trade Clause: Yes

He costs the same as Ian Happ and also has a no-trade clause. If you were betting on upside, you’d swing for Suzuki, who does always flash offensive dominance for months at a time. But the floor, right now, might be a good deal lower.

Shota Imanaga, SP

If Shota Imanaga doesn’t turn things around – and fast – he won’t be desired by anyone at the trade deadline. His last four starts have been absolutely horrendous, featuring a ridiculous 12 home runs. Even if he wasn’t getting horrific results, it’s tough to imagine a team trusting this version of Imanaga in the postseason, where homers are disproportionately bad news.

Stats: 76.0 IP, 4.74 ERA (4.93 FIP)
Salary: $22.025M
No-Trade Clause: No

Perhaps some lesser team looking to get to the playoffs would have some interest, but he simply isn’t going to be one of the “highly desired” starters unless something changes dramatically.

Jameson Taillon, SP

I’m not sure this is even worth a full blurb. Jameson Taillon has been exceptionally bad this season and is the only pitcher in baseball allowing more homers than Shota Imanaga. He’s a well-liked veteran who’s been around and all that nonsense, but how can you acquire him thinking he’ll help you win this year? You can’t.

Stats: 67.2 IP, 5.19 ERA (6.31 FIP)
Salary: $18M
No-Trade Clause: No

Oh, and that’s all without mentioning the fact that he’s currently injured. Sorry, but one way or another, Jameson Taillon is finishing this season with the Cubs.

Matthew Boyd, SP

Matthew Boyd is not yet back from the Injured List, but he should be soon. And unlike either of the first two rental starters on the Cubs, I could actually see him having some value if he has a nice run up to the deadline. Perversely, the fact that he has been injured twice, the second time not related to his arm at all, might actually give teams some hope that he’ll be fresh enough to keep pitching steadily deeper into the season than he did last year.

Stats: 24.0IP, 6.00 ERA (2.36 FIP)
Salary: $17M +$2M buyout
No-Trade Clause: No

Boyd is no one’s idea of a sure-fire playoff starter *at the moment,* but I really do believe he could recapture some value if he turns back up after returning from the IL.

Carson Kelly, C

Like last season, Carson Kelly hasn’t been able to maintain the impressive offensive pace he had going at the start of the season, but he’s still an above-average hitting catcher who calls a great game, receives well, and is arguably the top ABS challenger in baseball. He’s also quite cheap.

Stats: .280/.354/.357 (108 wRC+); 0.5 WAR
Salary: $5M + $1.5M buyout
No-Trade Clause: No

So on the surface, you might think he’s a pretty valuable trade chip. Unfortunately, catchers are very rarely traded at the deadline. The most cited reason is just how hard it is to integrate with an entirely new pitching staff and infrastructure mid-season. My guess is that he is not moved, even if the Cubs are sellers this year.

Caleb Thielbar, RP (L)

The veteran lefty reliever should have some solid value at the trade deadline. Although his full season numbers don’t look great at the moment, I don’t think they really do him justice. Generally speaking, he’s pretty steady.

Stats: 15.0 IP, 4.20 ERA (5.91 FIP)
Salary: $4M
No-Trade Clause: No

I don’t think any serious playoff contender would consider him a true late-inning option, but if you needed a lefty who could face righties and bulk up the bottom of your bullpen, Thielbar might be an attractive, low-cost option via trade.

Hoby Milner, RP (L)

Before getting blown up in his last outing, Hoby Milner had a 2.28 ERA this season. He’s also particularly good at handling lefties and generating groundballs. If you were after a low-cost LOOGY with a funky arm angle, I could see him generating some interest.

Stats: 28.0 IP, 4.18 ERA (4.46 FIP)
Salary: $3.75M
No-Trade Clause: No

Unfortunately, he’s yet another reliever in the “not a traditional late-inning option” category, so even if the Cubs do find a willing partner, you shouldn’t expect a massive return.

Michael Conforto, OF

If you were looking for lower-cost, lower-ceiling alternatives for your outfield or bench, Michael Conforto might be an intriguing target. He’s been only a part-time player this year, working in off the bench and at DH with occasional starts in the outfield, but he’s mostly been good.

Stats: .250/.356/.489 (138 wRC+); 0.5 WAR
Salary: $2M
No-Trade Clause: No

Raising his value slightly? His demonstrated production as a pinch-hitter. He’s come off the bench cold multiple times this year, coming through more often than you’d expect a guy in that role.

Guys With Control

As for the guys with control beyond this season (either under contract or a club option), four players stand out as potentially valuable trade chips. However, one of those guys, Phil Maton, has been so incredibly bad I don’t actually think he’s “at risk” of being dealt. Who could possibly believe in him for this season? That’s how lost he’s been. So we’ll actually just skip him and move on to the final three.

Colin Rea, SP

Colin Rea has made ten starts so far this season, plus three appearances in relief, and although you wouldn’t know it from his ERA, he’s actually been pretty solid. Frankly, he’s one of the more trustworthy Cubs starting pitchers at the moment … which is probably why we’re having this conversation in the first place.

Stats: 64.2 IP, 4.59 ERA (4.47 FIP)
Salary: $5.5M + $7.5M club option ($1M buyout)
No-Trade Clause: No

But given his ability to swing in and out of the rotation, I have to imagine there are some teams out there who’d believe Rea could help cover enough innings to get to the postseason. Once again, not a potential huge-return guy, but value nonetheless. He also comes with a $7.5M club option for 2027, including just a $1M buyout. I think that probably adds more value than it takes away, if he’s still looking strong at the end of the year.

Jacob Webb, RP (R)

Now we’re getting somewhere. Jacob Webb, 32, has been one of the nicer signings of the offseason, as he has evolved into a legitimately trustworthy late-inning option (and has been in that same category three years in a row). He’s not a closer, but he could be a valuable set-up man, capable of striking guys out, limiting walks, and inducing groundballs.

Stats: 28.1 IP, 2.22 ERA (3.14 FIP)
Salary: $1.5M + $2.5M club option
No-Trade Clause: No

Webb is also under club control for just $2.5M next season, which is a net-positive given how well he’s pitched this year. Relievers are volatile, but this is an exceedingly low financial cost. He’ll have some real value if he keeps this up.

Daniel Palencia, RP (R)

Now here’s the guy – potentially – with the most real, tradable value this season. I don’t know if the Cubs would actually pull the trigger, but Palencia could be a team’s closer, or he can turn into an extremely high-quality set-up man or fireman in the postseason (just like he did VERY WELL for the Cubs last October).

Stats: 15.2 IP, 2.30 ERA (3.49 FIP)
Salary: $800K, pre-arb
No-Trade Clause: No

When you throw in the fact that he’s still a PRE-ARB closer, making next to no money and controlled for the next FOUR seasons after this one, you can bet that Palencia is the type of reliever who could command a very legitimate prospect return at the deadline. Relievers are the most frequently and easily traded players at any deadline, and Palencia at least has the look of a modern pitcher.

I don’t necessarily want the Cubs to trade him, but if they’re way out of it, he could be their best chance at getting something of value out of this dud of a year.

Wild Cards

Could some team out there find value in someone like Javier Assad or Matt Shaw? Yeah, I don’t think those are unreasonable targets for a contending club looking to add around the edges.

But I think the Cubs would only trade Shaw if it was part of a larger package for some cost-controlled pitching. This would be one of those “not really for this year as much as next year” deals that are hard to come by, but not totally unheard of. In a way, the deal for Isaac Paredes a couple of deadlines ago was exactly that. Could Jed Hoyer look to go that way again? It’s certainly possible.

As for Assad, I just don’t think his value on the market will ever match what it is for the Cubs. They are already bleeding starting pitchers this offseason, so subtracting from their cost-controlled stack just doesn’t really make much sense. My bet is he stays put no matter what.

Conclusion

So that’s about it. There are more than a handful of realistically tradable guys, but outside of Jacob Webb and Daniel Palencia, no one is a sure-fire, high-value trade candidate.

That *can* change with some hot performances between now and August 3, 2026 (the MLB Trade Deadline), but that’s not something any of us should be counting on.

And, hey, if enough of these guys start playing better, maybe the Cubs will just find themselves among the buyers. Heh. Maybe. What a disaster.

Ah, but you know what? Maybe! Pretty hard to say that having a near-league-average bat available to play at almost any position at a time when the Cubs lost so many games might not have been quite valuable. Extra days off for this guy or that guy. Optimizing match-ups just a little better. To say nothing of the possibility that Shaw, who has already had really hot stretches in his big league career, might not have put a run together.

That is all to say, it’s very good news that Matt Shaw is coming back soon. Tomorrow, even, according to Jesse Rogers:

Cubs roster news: The team is activating INF/OF Matt Shaw (back) from the IL tomorrow after he spent a few days on a rehab assignment in the minors, sources tell ESPN. Not a surprise considering the Major League team’s offensive and baserunning woes lately.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 8, 2026

Shaw, who is hitting .242/.291/.400/94 wRC+ on the year, appeared in four games for the I-Cubs on his rehab stint. He had four hits and two walks in 16 plate appearances, while striking out just twice. He DH’d once, played center field twice, and played first base once. Funny thing is that center field and first base would be the two spots that the Cubs don’t have an obvious match-up-based alternative to the starter on the roster if Kevin Alcantara were to be the guy sent down. (Not that you’re eager to sit Pete Crow-Armstrong or Michael Busch right now!)

Speaking of which, yes, Alcantara is my guess on who goes down tomorrow to make room for Shaw, barring some injury we don’t yet know about. I would’ve said that before his egregiously bad baserunning mistake last night, but that sure didn’t help.

UPDATE: Sure enough, it’s gonna be Alcantara:

The Cubs are sending Kevin Alcantara back to Triple-A.

— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) June 8, 2026

Alcantara, 23, was used primarily against lefties and as a later-inning bench option (with some serious struggles on the bases), doing just about nothing in his 10 plate appearances. That doesn’t really change your perspective on him long-term, as he’ll really need to cut the strikeouts at Triple-A to have a realistic shot at being a starter in the big leagues. With no minor league options remaining after this season, he’s got some things to prove between now and next April.