GM Jed Hoyer: Cubs looking at ‘everything’ in trade talks this month to fill hitting, LHP needs

PITTSBURGH — With the way the Cubs have looked since the middle of May, apparently nothing’s off the table as they shop for help before the trade deadline July 31.

“I think we’ll look at everything,” general manager Jed Hoyer said before the Cubs opened July against the Pirates at PNC Park. “It’s been a frustrating 40-50 games, and in baseball you’re always trying to evaluate what’s the random ups and downs of a long season vs. what is legitimate concern and what needs to be addressed.”

That means continuing to shop for long-needed left-handed bullpen help, as well as a bat — especially if it means helping improve a production gap at second base or in outfield depth.

“Certainly providing some depth offensively is something we’ll look at carefully,” Hoyer said. “And looking at left-handed relief is something we’ll do. Kyle Ryan’s doing a great job, and we’ve used him a lot. [Mike Montgomery] is not your prototypical left-on-left guy; we use him more for length. So that’s something to look at.”

Keep an eye on left-hander Brad Hand, the All-Star closer many believe the water-treading Indians might decide to move as they assess their chances in October and retooling options after the All-Star break.

Nationals closer Sean Doolittle and Giants closer Will Smith — another 2019 All-Star — also could be shopped.

Whether the Cubs have the player capital in the farm system to compete for their top targets might be a more important question than what’s on their wish list.

“We have a lot of prospects that have taken a big step forward, there’s no doubt,” said Hoyer. “I certainly know that we have plenty of assets that other teams have asked about. But it’s certainly not where we were in 2015.”

Players in the Cubs’ farm system involved in deals since 2015 are current All-Star Dan Vogelbach, 2018 All-Star Gleyber Torres and top White Sox prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease.

“But I definitely feel like things are well on the upswing, and I think we feel good about the progress we’ve made,” Hoyer said of the system.

Hamels’ MRI exam

Left-hander Cole Hamels underwent an MRI exam in Pittsburgh to determine the severity of his left oblique injury, which he injured in his start Friday.

The results were not immediately available. The veteran starter suffered a right oblique injury two years ago and missed two months.

This and that

The Pirates took a moment of silence before the game to recognize Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died suddenly at the team hotel in Texas on Monday morning.

• Right-hander Tony Barnette, who has not reported to Class AAA Iowa since being optioned back to the minors last week after just two appearances, was put on the restricted list. Hoyer said the Cubs have kept the door open for Barnette, who had spent much of the season rehabbing from a shoulder injury.

• Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. (left upper back) was scheduled to pitch a rehab inning Monday night for Iowa and be evaluated after that. The team hopes to have him back in the bullpen before the All-Star break.