Chicago Cubs facing one prickly roadblock in potential All-Star trade

The Chicago Cubs will almost certainly do something significant before the MLB trade deadline. Either they’ll make some moves to bolster their chances of making the playoffs, or they’ll decide they are out of it and will sell off some pieces.

The latter seemed unthinkable a little over a month ago, but with the Cubs going just 7-21 after a 27-12 start and falling further and further in the National League standings, it could become a surprising reality for Chicago.

In the event that the Cubs do decide to blow it up, there are some obvious names that could become available.

Shota Imanaga seems like a prime candidate to be moved. He is slated to hit free agency after the season, and he has not exactly pitched up to par in 2026. He wasn’t great in 2025, either. Seiya Suzuki is another piece who could be on the trade block given his impending free-agent status.

Then, there is Ian Happ, whose contract expires at the end of the year and whose departure would clear the way for Kevin Alcantara to nab a starting job in the outfield. But there is one potential wrinkle in a Happ trade: his no-trade clause.

Chicago Cubs could face an issue with a potential Ian Happ trade

Happ signed a three-year, $61 million contract extension with the Cubs in April 2023, a pact that featured a full no-trade clause. That means Happ can block any potential deal, so Chicago would need to run trades by him before actually attempting to complete one.

The 31-year-old did leave the door open for an exit before the season when speaking about the final year of his deal, so perhaps Happ would be just fine leaving the Windy City, especially if it meant he could play for a contender the remainder of 2026. But the destination would still have to be right for him.

Happ has spent his entire career in Chicago, so he might not be so quick to want out. He has made an All-Star appearance while also capturing four Gold Glove awards throughout his tenure with the Cubbies, which began back in 2017. Clearly, he has experienced a great deal of success with the only franchise he has ever known.

But if the Cubs continue to slide, you do have to wonder just how much he will want to remain with the ballclub, especially if they make it clear that they want to move him.

If Chicago fades out of playoff contention entirely by Aug. 3, it absolutely should look to trade Happ. He is getting older, and even though he owns an .830 OPS his season (his best mark since 2020), it makes sense to ship him out to forge a path to regular playing time for Alcantara.

Whether or not Happ agrees to that is another story.

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