BCB After Dark: What should top the Cubs’ shopping list?

It’s time again for BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. So glad you could stop by this evening. Come in out of the heat. The music inside is cool. There are still a few tables available. The hostess will seat you. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

The Cubs beat the White Sox tonight 7-6 in probably the biggest win of the year so far. I missed the bad parts of this game because I was closing on a house, but thanks to a rain delay, I got home in time to watch the Cubs’ epic comeback. The Cubs got a two-run home run from Christopher Morel (after his error led to that five-run fourth inning by the White Sox) and another two-run home run by Patrick Wisdom. Then Ian Happ continued to put his slump in the rear-view mirror with a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning.

On Tuesday night, I don’t normally do a movie essay, but I always have time for jazz. Those of you who skip that can do so now. You won’t hurt my feelings.

Tonight I’ve got some superstars with Norah Jones, Questlove and Christian McBride playing “Why Am I Treated So Bad?” This is from 2023.

Also, I can’t believe Norah Jones is 45 already.

Welcome back to those of you who skip the music.

There have been a lot of articles lately about the trade deadline, including this piece where Cubs team president Jed Hoyer says a lot of words without actually saying anything.

So tonight, I’m going to ask you what you think the Cubs’ biggest need at the trade deadline will be. As I write this after the win over the White Sox, the Cubs are 30-31, which sounds bad until you realize that if the season ended today, they’d still be the third Wild Card team.

So what do you think the Cubs number one priority is at the trade deadline? Or will they fall out of the race and sell? That’s certainly possible and anyone who has watched the past month of Cubs baseball would certainly be pessimistic about a playoff spot. But if they end up selling, they don’t really have much to offer. Ian Happ has a no-trade clause. Jameson Taillon has a big contract that some team might take off the Cubs hands, but he wouldn’t likely bring back much in return unless they ate most of the money. Guys like Patrick Wisdom and Mike Tauchman might bring a low-level lottery-ticket prospect in return. Mostly, teams would be interested in Mark Leiter Jr. and Héctor Neris. Teams don’t often give up a ton for relievers who are less than elite these days.

Still, for those of you who are still optimistic, what should be the Cubs’ biggest priority at the trade deadline? Obviously they can address more than one problem, but I’m asking you to pick the biggest issue for now.

Thank you so very much for stopping by this evening. We hope you’ve enjoyed yourself. Please get home safely. Stay cool out there. Check around your table for your belongings. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.