With the trade deadline creeping closer and the pressure building on Jed Hoyer, the Cubs may have to get creative if they want to upgrade the pitching staff. Reports that the Miami Marlins will be buyers rather than sellers have already taken one possible path off the board, and that only makes the search for rotation help and bullpen help tougher for Chicago.
That’s why a buyer-to-buyer idea from Bleacher Report at least deserves a look. The concept is simple enough: the Cubs and Mariners swapping pieces in a deal that helps both clubs right now and beyond. It’s the kind of framework that can get interesting fast when high-end arms are scarce and the clock is ticking toward the All-Star break.
The name that jumps out is Seiya Suzuki. Chicago’s offense has had too little slug beyond a few bats, including Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Suzuki has been one of the few consistent sources of power.
He’s coming off a 32-homer, 103-RBI season and is on pace to challenge those numbers again. Moving him out of the lineup would be a major hit, especially with Alex Bregman not providing slug either.
Seattle, though, has a clear need of its own. The Mariners are in the middle of the AL West race and could use a right-handed power bat, which is exactly the kind of profile Suzuki brings.
Still, the Cubs would likely be more inclined to use someone like Kevin Alcantara as the centerpiece in a deal for a starter. In a trade between contenders, the Mariners would want a proven player who can help them now and into 2026.
If the conversation turns to pitching, Luis Castillo is a name worth watching. Chicago was linked to both Jesus Luzardo and Castillo in the final weeks of 2024 while looking for rotation help. Luzardo eventually landed with the Phillies after the Cubs backed away because of medical concerns, while Castillo stayed put in Seattle.
Castillo has started to look like himself again. Over his last seven outings, he has posted a 2.72 ERA, and his 3.83 FIP on the season is far from alarming, especially considering the state of the Cubs’ rotation. He also has at least one more year left on his contract, with the possibility of two if he stays healthy and continues piling up innings.
Suzuki’s full no-trade protection makes a deal involving him feel unlikely, and the Cubs probably won’t want to part with that kind of bat anyway. But Castillo checks the box for the type of arm Chicago should be pursuing, and as the deadline gets closer, he’s a name that makes sense to keep on the radar.
In Other News...
Pete Crow-Armstrong Trade Is A Warning Cubs Fans Can't Ignore
The Pete Crow-Armstrong trade has become one of those front-office decisions that looks different with time, and former Mets GM Zack Scott recently revisited it with the benefit of hindsight. In explaining the move that sent Crow-Armstrong to Chicago, Scott pointed to the pressure of a pennant race and the urge to chase a playoff push, a context that helps explain why a deal made for immediate help can age so sharply when the postseason run falls short.
For the Cubs, that history lands at an awkward moment. Chicago has roster needs that could tempt the front office toward a major deadline swing, but the Crow-Armstrong reminder cuts both ways: bold moves can solve a present problem, and they can also leave a team staring at what it gave up later. The debate now is whether the Cubs should spend future assets on a big addition or stay disciplined and protect the kind of talent that can change a roster for years. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Deadline Push For Ideal Starter Just Hit An Unexpected Snag
The Cubs are still scanning the market for a starter who can help them make a real push, and one of the names drawing the most attention is Minnesota right-hander Joe Ryan. He fits the kind of profile contenders usually chase at the deadline: established, controllable, and good enough to matter beyond a short-term rental, which is exactly why Chicago has been linked to him as it looks for rotation help.
The snag is that Minnesota has not fallen out of the race, which makes it harder to imagine the Twins dealing away a pitcher they can still use in their own push. There is also the broader complication hanging over talks, since Ryan remains under control through the 2027 season and uncertainty about a possible work stoppage that year could change how teams value that kind of long-term control. [Read more 🡒]
Owen Ayers Just Made The Cubs Catching Picture A Lot Murkier
The Cubs catching depth chart already looked settled enough on paper with Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly in place, but Owen Ayers has pushed his way into the conversation with a rapid climb through the system. Drafted in 2024, the catcher has done more than hold his own in the upper minors, forcing the organization to take a harder look at how much room there really is behind the plate.
Ayers is reportedly on the verge of a Triple-A promotion after earning his way there with strong offensive showings at High-A and Double-A, and his bat has been the calling card all along. Chicago has spent plenty of attention on the pitching side of the draft too, selecting Cade Townsend in the first round, but Ayers rise is the kind of development that can quietly reshape a roster picture before anyone expects it to. [Read more 🡒]