This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/cubs as What Would Cubs Blockbuster Trade For Ace MacKenzie Gore Actually Cost?. The Chicago Cubs have long been expected to be one of the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline, which is now less than a week away.

The Chicago Cubs line up as one of the prospective buyers, especially for pitching, as baseball’s July 31 trade deadline approaches.

This round of the City Series arrives as the July 31 trade deadline nears. The Cubs are in a position to buy while the White Sox will be looking to sell.

On Friday, Finkelstein and Staph predicted that the Cubs would acquire Ryan, sending the Twins a three-prospect package including catcher Moises Ballesteros, infielder Jefferson Rojas, and right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins.

Amaya is a gem, but the Cubs are loaded at catcher, with the reliable Carson Kelly locked in as the go-to starter and Reese McGuire as a solid backup. And lest we forget, 21-year-old phenom Moises Ballesteros is waiting in the wings.

The Chicago Cubs trade deadline blueprint to boost their rotation includes Cleveland Guardians' former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber.

The Chicago Cubs need a third reliable starting pitcher, and the Kansas City Royals have the man for the job in last season's Cy Young runner-up, Seth Lugo.

If the Chicago Cubs make the postseason, adding another quality starter who can slot into a playoff series would make them a serious World Series threat.