Forget the fact the Cubs are coming off a 4-5 road trip and a second straight series loss, the Cubs are playing really good ball right now. Their 376 runs scored trail only the Dodgers and their 41-27 (.603) record is bested only by the Mets, Yankees, and Tigers.

Those following the team (and reporting) can argue what’s contributed the most to the team’s success in the absence of their two best starting pitchers, Justin Steele, and Shota Imanaga. The former is lost for the season. An olio of third slot starters and a revamped bullpen seem to be doing the trick while the offense prevails.

Unlike past seasons when the Cubs have been competitive, this version seems poised to make needed moves to succeed in the postseason. President of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer has gone on the record to say that pitching is a priority, and the presumption is that he’ll make moves when the timing is right.

Whether Hoyer has secretly received a contract extension or not may play a role in the team’s urgency to win post haste. What is known is outfielder, Kyle Tucker is in Chicago on a one-year deal and the team is in must-win mode right now, regardless of Jed’s status.

That the Cubs are this good and playing this well despite some setbacks is wonderful for fans, but what’s equally as fun is the scenario allows for fans (like me) to have old school bar discussions about who the Cubs can and should trade for pitchers with proven track records. Writers and bloggers with no connections, sources nor credibility throw out crazy scenarios to attract readers. I’ll argue that fans sitting around a diner can be as creative in their trade proposals.

Without knowing what other teams’ general managers are thinking, we can posit which pitchers are available and are what the Cubs want/need. For example, the list might include Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Paul Skenes, Charlie Morton, Chris Bassitt, to name but a few. In turn, fans toss out the name of highly valued prospects that they think would be sacrificed (like pawns) for any player. What would you be willing to sacrifice for the services of any of the players? Everything like age, past history, health, contract status plays a part.

It’s really a fun, harmless exercise that won’t impact any general manager’s decisions. Obviously, trying to predict a team’s course of action is popular these days because everyone is an expert and has an account on some online betting service to prove it.

As more teams are eliminated from postseason consideration, the greater the chances they’ll want to unload some proven (and expensive) players for more cost-effective and younger alternatives. Likewise, for many reasons, the demand for proven talent will increase.

Not every fan can afford to attend Cub games, but they have the imagination to make some pretty interesting trades. Some might even sync up with what actually happens.