The Cubs have put themselves in position to force Jed Hoyer’s hand, and the trade deadline now looks like the moment when he has to deliver. Chicago is more than 10 games above .500 and sitting firmly atop the National League Wild Card race, which means the players have done their part. The question now is whether Hoyer will match that push with the kind of moves that can actually change October.
The biggest swing would be a true top-of-the-rotation starter. That has been a need since Justin Steele went down with an elbow injury last year, and the Cubs still haven’t filled it.
The Edward Cabrera deal came closest, but injuries and regression have kept that move from looking like a win right now. Tarik Skubal is the obvious name, though if Chicago lands a pitcher in this tier, it likely has to be someone under control beyond this season.
Logan Webb and Joe Ryan fit that description, but neither may be available.
If the Cubs do make a move for a starter, the more likely path is probably in the mid-tier range, and probably for a rental. Robbie Ray is a name Cubs fans should keep in mind, especially with the San Francisco Giants clearly selling and the front office having liked him for years.
Freddy Peralta has at times looked like a top-end starter, but his struggles with the Mets this year put him in this bucket. His teammate, Clay Holmes, is another possibility the Cubs are likely weighing.
The bullpen also needs attention, and Daniel Palencia’s setback has likely changed the shape of that search. Chicago was already looking for an established high-leverage arm, but Palencia’s uncertain timeline makes a closer feel like the more pressing target now.
Any team out of contention could have a closer available, and Luke Weaver looks like a natural fit because he would also come with an extra year of control. Mason Miller is another name expected to move this summer, though it’s hard to picture the Cubs landing him from the Padres.
Another left-handed reliever also makes sense. Hoby Milner should be back right before the deadline, but Caleb Thielbar’s regression this season means the Cubs probably still want another southpaw who can handle big innings. Adrian Morejon stands out if the San Diego Padres end up straddling the line between buying and selling, while Brooks Raley also fits as a strong option if the Mets make him available.
The bench is the last item on the list, and it’s more about how the Cubs handle the rest of their business than about any one position. They don’t have a glaring need there on its own.
But if Chicago moves someone from the group of Pedro Ramirez, Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcantara, or Moises Ballesteros, then adding a veteran bench piece starts to make sense. If the Cubs part with Shaw or Ramirez, a utility infielder could be the answer.
If it’s Alcantara or Ballesteros, a veteran bat with some pop off the bench becomes the more logical target.
In Other News...
Former Cubs Prospect Is Forcing A Painful Busch Trade Revisit
Michael Busch has given the Cubs exactly what they hoped for when they made the January 2024 swap, settling in as one of the more productive first basemen in the game. Since the start of last season, he has ranked eighth among MLB first basemen in fWAR and 10th in wRC+, a reminder that Chicago did not just buy time at the position, it landed a legitimate middle-of-the-order piece.
The part that keeps the deal from feeling settled is what the Dodgers have gotten back on the other side. The prospect Chicago sent out in that trade is tearing through Double-A, piling up runs batted in and continuing to climb prospect lists while showing real improvement against left-handed pitching. If that progress holds, the Cubs may have to keep revisiting whether the Busch deal was a clean win, or one of those exchanges that looks better for both clubs every time the box scores roll in. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Have A Bullpen Problem And Matt Shaw Twist
The Cubs bullpen depth has taken a hit at a time when every arm matters, with Trent Thornton and Phil Maton both dealing with injuries that complicate the late-season picture. Thornton was hurt when a comebacker struck his heel, and Matons knee issue has pushed him out of the mix for the foreseeable future, leaving Chicago with less margin for error as the calendar tightens.
Matt Shaw adds another layer to the story because his wrist injury has kept him from being cleared to hit, and his status now folds into a bigger roster conversation. For a club trying to balance immediate pitching needs with longer-term value, Shaws name remains part of the trade discussion, which makes his recovery worth watching even as the Cubs sort out the bullpen mess. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Move May Have Opened A New Cubs Deadline Door
The Royals decision to scoop up Nate Pearson after Houston designated the right-hander for assignment may have done more than add another arm to their staff. It also gives Kansas City a little more flexibility if it decides to turn over part of its rotation, and that matters for a Cubs club still looking for pitching help as the deadline picture starts to sharpen.
Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are the names to watch on that front, with both veteran starters sitting in the kind of range that could draw interest if the Royals choose to listen. For Chicago, that creates another possible path into the market, especially if Kansas City decides Pearson is enough insurance to make a move, but the real question is whether the Royals are actually ready to part with one of their experienced arms. [Read more 🡒]