Starting pitching and a third baseman are on the Chicago Cubs' shopping list ahead of the MLB trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

The Mets are willing to trade from a young infield group that includes Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Mark Vientos, according to The Athletic. With Francisco Li

CHICAGO — All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is currently sidelined with a bruised right knee, giving the Cubs yet another item to consider in the final 10 days before the July 31 trade deadline.

Unfortunately, he might not have that luxury anymore. Not after young righty Ben Brown got lit up in Monday's loss to the Kansas City Royals, allowing seven runs (six earned) in four innings of work after taking over for opener Ryan Brasier.

The rookie third baseman came out of the All-Star break with four hits, including a homer, in three games against the Red Sox, but is that enough to keep the Cubs from shopping for a third baseman?

The Chicago Cubs continue to explore options for help at third base amid uncertainty surrounding Matt Shaw. The rookie is 4-for-32 at-bat in July, with three of those hits coming against the Boston Red Sox this weekend after the All-Star break.

The Cubs reportedly are eyeing former Nationals All-Star reliever Kyle Finnegan as a bullpen boost ahead of the trade deadline.

This past weekend was not good news for the Kansas City Royals' odds of keeping Seth Lugo. Lugo and Co. lost two of three games to the Miami Marlins in their first series coming out of the All-Star break.