Cubs Deadline Dilemma: Bye Odds Drive Any Big-Trade Call

Jed Hoyer says the Cubs’ willingness to chase a big trade at the deadline depends on how securing a first-round bye would boost World Series odds, so blockbuster moves must be weighed against the team’s standing. With the Cubs about seven games out of a bye, they need to improve first, since the bye—and the associated odds—can heavily influence whether a Tarik Skubal-type deal is worth the long-term risk.