Assad and Taillon, who is scheduled to throw live batting practice in Milwaukee this week before starting his minor-league rehab assignment, are on track to return sometime around mid-August. And the Cubs are exploring trade options to add outside pitching before the deadline Thursday.

Here is the perfect trade offer that the Chicago Cubs should offer the Minnesota Twins for starting pitcher Joe Ryan.

Starting pitcher Jameson Taillon threw 47 pitches during a bullpen session Friday at Wrigley Field, per the Cubs. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 4 with a right calf strain. Prior to his injury, Taillon had a 4.44 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 95.1 innings, including 10 quality starts.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs may find all these questions about the trade deadline to be repetitive. The alternative angle, though, would be focusing on the club’s middling play recently. Between the blowout losses, sloppy defense and creaky pitching staff, help should be on the way.

When the Chicago Cubs are good, you can feel it, and this season, the energy is palpable because the Cubs have been one of baseball’s best teams. The atmosphere around Wrigley Field has reached playoff levels as the calendar gets close to August — a sign that good baseball is being played at the Friendly Confines.

The Cubs, the City of Chicago, and Major League Baseball are set to officially announce next week that Wrigley Field has been awarded the 2027 All-Star Game. Sun-Times sources confirmed the rollout, which will include officials from all parties, is scheduled for Aug. 1, as Crain’s Chicago Business reported Wednesday night.

Its Wednesday, July 23 and the Royals (49-53) are in Chicago to close out their series with the Cubs (60-41). Seth Lugo is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Colin Rea for Chicago.