The Chicago Cubs are currently leading the National League Central by 5.5 games and are looking to strengthen their pitching rotation ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. With names like Sandy Alcantara and Zach Eflin being targeted, there are also suggestions for a more strategic trade involving the Atlanta Braves' slugger Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna, with a .253/.388/.422 line, is seen as a significant addition to the Cubs' lineup, which has struggled to break a four-year playoff drought.

In a potential trade scenario proposed by Andrew Wright, Ian Happ could be swapped for Ozuna, allowing Seiya Suzuki to return to left field. Happ's current performance has been lackluster at .249 with only seven home runs, while Suzuki boasts a stronger .261 average with 17 home runs. With the Braves underperforming, trading Ozuna while acquiring Happ could be mutually beneficial, appealing to both teams' timelines and needs as they aim for playoff contention.