The Chicago Cubs "remain in listening mode" ahead of the MLB trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.

"Though the asking price would surely be astronomical, those conversations could theoretically include offers for standout left-hander Justin Steele," per the report.

The Athletic also cautioned "there is little reason to think that he is going anywhere" in part because of what the Cubs would likely ask back in return.

The situation appears to be the same with second baseman Nico Hoerner. Mooney, Rosenthal and Sammon reported a trade for Chicago "would have to involve receiving legitimate contributors who can be plugged into next year's team."

"The Cubs don't feel any internal pressure to make moves just to duck beneath this year's $237 million luxury-tax threshold," per The Athletic. "The potential options are generally limited by players who are either injured, underperforming or working with no-trade clauses. The organization also isn't interested in adding extra A-ball prospects to the farm system."

Steele is just 2-4 through 15 starts but sports a 3.07 ERA and a 3.18 FIP. The southpaw is on pace to have his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA, and he should surpass 170 innings pitched for the second successive year.

Adding to Steele's value, he's not eligible to hit the open market until 2028.

It's a similar story with Hoerner, who boasts a positive level of on-field consistency with multiple years of team control. He's in the first year of his three-year, $35 million extension, which represents solid value for what he's providing at the plate and in the middle of the infield.

Hoerner has a .258/.338/.352 slash line through 92 games, and the reigning Gold Glove winner remains a plus defender. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average metric.

At 48-53, the Cubs are fourth in the National League Central and sit 3.5 games back of the final wild-card spot. FanGraphs gives them an 8.4 percent chance of reaching the postseason.

Chicago is in a position to be a seller at the deadline but won't want to tear the roster down to the studs. Both Steele and Hoerner figure to be important contributors in 2025, so it's little surprise the front office is driving a hard bargain in any hypothetical trades.