The Chicago Cubs are going to be tied to just about every starting pitcher who pops up on the trade market before the MLB trade deadline, and Jeff Passan’s latest deadline notes kept that trend going.
One week before the MLB All-Star break, Passan’s list of potential targets again put Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal near the top. He wrote that every contender should have interest, and for the Cubs, how aggressive they get could depend on where they sit in the National League Central standings as the deadline gets closer. If the Brewers are still within shouting distance, the Cubs are expected to stay in the mix.
Even so, the Cubs are hardly the favorite if Skubal becomes available. Passan pointed to teams with stronger trade packages, including the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees.
But Skubal is not the only Tigers starter worth watching for Chicago. Passan also listed Casey Mize as a pitcher with a 60% chance of being traded, and that could make him the more realistic target for the Cubs. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft has had his career slowed by injuries, but he’s putting together the best season of his career right now.
Mize has posted a 2.64 ERA across his first 13 starts this season and has struck out more than 25% of the hitters he’s faced. He also had an injury scare earlier this year, though that hasn’t stopped him from producing when he’s been on the mound.
Both Skubal and Mize are free agents after the season, but Mize comes with a much lighter price tag. He’s owed roughly $2 million for the rest of the year, which makes him a far easier rental for a Cubs team trying to find the right balance at the deadline.
For Chicago, that kind of move makes a lot of sense. Mize’s numbers would give the Cubs a clear rotation boost and, on paper, make him their de facto ace for the stretch run. The Cubs can always dream bigger, but at this point it’s tough to see them pushing all their chips in that far.
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