The Chicago Cubs were closer to end their 107-year championship drought, but they got swept by the New York Mets in the National League Division Series. The Cubs' middle infield is full of young players, and the team is looking to trade second baseman/shortstop Starlin Castro, per Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score.

Chicago seems to have locked in the second base with Javier Baez and shortstop with Addison Russell. This makes the 25-year-old Dominican a great trade chip, as reported by Bleacher Report. According to Tony Andracki of CSN Chicago, the Cubs have other options than trading Castro.

Chicago could still use him as the starting second baseman and have Baez play the outfield. President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein has said that having more versatility in the team is better. The former top Cubs prospect is expected to be ready if he ever gets the chance to play in the outfield to help the young Chicago team make it back to the playoffs and end the curse next season.

At the trade deadline last July, there were rumors that Castro was going to be traded to the San Diego Padres, but the two franchises never reached an agreement, per Da Windy City. One possible destination for the 25-year-old Dominican is the Oakland Athletics.

Call to the Pen reports that there are rumors of an Athletics rebuild and they are willing to trade right-handed ace, Sonny Gray. The Cubs are in need of starting pitching to help Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, and Gray seems to fit the bill that Chicago is looking for.

The report noted that the Cubs won't deal third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and ace Jake Arrieta, but they have loads of talented prospects that could persuade Oakland general manager Billy Beane. It includes Alberto Almora, Javier Baez, CJ Edwards, Pierce Johnson, Billy McKinney, Kyke Schwarber, Duan Underwood and Dan Vogelbach.

A package of those prospects plus Castro and Kyle Hendricks may be appealing enough for the Athletics to pull the trigger. This won't be the first trade that the two teams will be involved as back in last season's trade deadline, Oakland sent Russell, McKinney, Dan Straily and a player to be named later to Chicago for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, per MLB.com.