Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees face trade‑deadline pressure

The Chicago Cubs have secured a playoff spot thanks to a top‑ranked offense and strong defense, but their pitching ranks near the bottom of the league. With an ERA of 4.15, the team entered the trade deadline needing to bolster its rotation. Manager Craig Counsell and GM Jed Hoyer are looking to add starting pitching, hoping to bring right‑hander Edward Cabrera back from injury and explore other options before the Aug. 3 deadline.

The New York Yankees, after a recent embarrassing loss to the Chicago White Sox, see their bullpen and catcher depth exposed. Injuries to stars such as Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole have left the roster thin, and catcher performance has become a liability. Front office chief Brian Cashman must decide on moves to stabilize the team, including addressing the catcher situation, before the trade deadline approaches.