MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest Cubs-related free agent and trade rumors right here. The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline is July 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

July 22: Cubs unlikely to be buyers at Deadline (report)
The Cubs enter Monday only 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot. However, there are five teams in front of them in that race, they own a 48-53 record and have just an 8.4% chance of making the postseason, per FanGraphs’ playoff odds. Facing such long odds, the Cubs "don't foresee a scenario in which they become buyers at the July 30 Trade Deadline," sources told The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon (subscription required).

However, that doesn't mean the Cubs are exactly open to selling either.

"[T]he internal belief is that the Cubs are not that far away from the team that quickly pivoted to buyers last year, finishing with 83 wins when 84 was good enough for the Diamondbacks and Marlins to make the playoffs."

Most of the Cubs’ players are signed to long-term deals or controllable beyond 2024, and rentals such as starter Kyle Hendricks (6.69 ERA) are struggling. Reliever Héctor Neris (2025 club option for $9 million) has pitched better lately, but his 6.4 BB/9 puts a serious dent in his trade value.

Although the Cubs are in "listening mode," according to The Athletic, any deal for a player with multiple years of club control -- such as left-handed starter Justin Steele or second baseman Nico Hoerner -- would come with a huge asking price. On Sunday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that Chicago has had trade talks with both the Yankees and Red Sox about pitcher Jameson Taillon, who is in the second year of a four-year contract.

Taillon, who has recorded a sparkling 3.10 ERA over 93 innings this season, pitched for the Yankees for two seasons before signing a four-year, $68 million deal with the Cubs after the 2022 campaign.

It would have made sense for the Cubs to shop Cody Bellinger, who can opt out to test free agency this offseason. However, the left-handed slugger is expected to be out past the Deadline after fracturing his finger.

Nightengale wrote that the Cubs were undecided about whether to be buyers or sellers at the Deadline. But buying for this season doesn't seem to be in the cards, per The Athletic.

"The Cubs aren’t going to stretch to acquire two-month rental players and hope things suddenly get better."

July 11: Trade candidate Belli to IL with fractured finger
Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list with a non-displaced fracture of his finger on Thursday, potentially removing one of the Cubs' top trade chips from the equation with a few weeks to go before the July 30 Trade Deadline.

It's not a given that the Cubs will sell, of course. The team entered Thursday 3 1/2 games out in the National League Wild Card race with a 44-49 record.

Bellinger, though, had been drawing interest from multiple teams prior to his injury. According to a report from Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), the Cubs have talked to the Phillies, Braves, Astros and Mariners about Bellinger.

The 28-year-old can test free agency this offseason if he opts out of the final two years on his three-year, $80 million contract.