The Cubs were always a long shot to play meaningful baseball down the stretch, but they’ve really failed to seize the sliver of opportunity. It’s been difficult to watch, honestly.

The story of the Cubs season in a nutshell: starting pitching that you can rely on, followed by either the offense or bullpen failing to show up.

Early in the season the problem seemed to be more the bullpen’s fault, however, recently the offense has almost entirely vanished.

Scoring nine runs in six games isn’t exactly a recipe a recipe for winning baseball.

All of it has the Cubs on the cusp of selling one more time at the deadline.

This trade deadline poses unique challenges for Jed Hoyer and company, however.

It’s not really a full teardown situation and the farm system is much improved, albeit with corner outfielders who are blocked by two stalwarts in the lineup with multiple years left on pretty good deals.

Sources have indicated the Cubs will make moves with 2025 and beyond in mind this deadline.

But as you’ll see below, so many of the possible tradeable players could also impact the team in 2025 and beyond.

Let’s start with a look at the 40-man roster, current contracts, and years to free agency.

This is mostly a product from Baseball Prospectus that they complied at the start of the season.

I attempted to update it with tracking roster moves and contract information from Spotrac.