The Chicago Cubs have never been shy about looking for unconventional ways to patch holes in their pitching staff, and that matters here because Atlanta’s willingness to float Spencer Strider in trade talks should have their attention.
Jed Hoyer has built a front office that will at least kick the tires on creative ideas, especially when pitching is involved. That’s why the reported Braves discussion around Strider and Jacob deGrom at this year’s deadline is worth filing away. deGrom blocked a move to Atlanta, but the structure of that talk mattered: Strider was part of the conversation to balance the money in a potential deal.
That kind of setup raises the obvious question for this offseason. If the Braves were open to that sort of creativity once, would they be open to it again?
If they are, the Cubs would do their homework.
The problem for Chicago is that Strider comes with more warning lights than a clean bill of health. Over the last three seasons, he has made just 33 starts.
His velocity has also dipped since the beginning of the 2024 season. And even when he has been on the mound, the results haven’t matched the reputation.
Through eight starts this year, the 27-year-old posted a 5.31 ERA.
There’s also been real talk about whether he should remain a starter at all, and even broader questions about how many years he has left as a frontline pitcher.
That’s a tough profile for a Cubs team that can’t afford to bet big on uncertainty. Cade Horton is already expected to miss most of the 2027 season, while Justin Steele, if everything goes right, would be in his first full season back in the rotation. Add in the fact that the rest of the current rotation is headed toward free agency after this offseason, plus the uncertainty around Brown, and Chicago is hardly in a position to gamble on Strider becoming the pitcher he was before 2023.
Then there’s the other part of this: Atlanta’s motive. The Braves were willing to include Strider in those trade discussions because they needed to make the dollars work. The Cubs don’t really have a natural match for that kind of swap on their roster.
In today’s game, bad-contract trades are increasingly rare. Dansby Swanson’s deal or Alex Bregman’s deal might not age well, but that’s not a conversation for this year or next.
So yes, Strider could still move this offseason. But if he does, there’s a strong chance the Cubs won’t be the team on the other end of that deal.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Finally Face The Front Office Shakeup Fans Want
Carter Hawkins has quietly become a name to watch beyond Wrigley Field, with the Cubs general manager reportedly drawing interest as a candidate for front office openings around Major League Baseball. The timing matters for Chicago, because the landscape around the league is shifting, and recent changes with clubs such as the Astros and Angels have created the kind of vacancies that can pull experienced executives into bigger opportunities.
For the Cubs, Hawkins leaving would be more than a routine personnel move. It could force a broader rethink of how the front office is structured and who holds the final say on baseball decisions, especially if Hawkins is looking for a job that gives him full control. In a sport where executive hierarchy shapes everything from roster construction to long-term planning, his next step could end up carrying real consequences for Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Have Found A Crucial Bullpen Answer For The Stretch Run
The Cubs got a late-season bullpen boost when they activated Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list and made it clear hell work out of relief for the rest of the year. His return comes at a useful time for a club trying to steady the back end of games, and it also gives Craig Counsell another option as the pennant race tightens up.
Trent Thornton landing on the injured list with left ankle soreness opened a spot, but Cabreras arrival is the bigger development for Chicagos immediate plans. Counsell sounded encouraged about what the right-hander can bring in this role, and the Cubs will spend the stretch run finding out whether this is the kind of bullpen answer that can matter when every game starts to feel a little more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Need One More Strong Showing Before Atlanta Comes To Wrigley
The Cubs head into their meeting with the Pirates at Wrigley Field with much of the lineup intact, looking to carry over the same rhythm that has fueled them over the last two games. Chicago has scored 16 runs in that stretch and limited Pittsburgh to five, a useful sign as the club tries to keep its offense moving before Atlanta arrives on the North Side.
Matthew Boyd gets the start after another strong outing, and hell be opposed by Bubba Chandler, a right-hander who leans on his fastball and likes to work to contact. The Cubs have already seen enough from Boyd to trust the matchup, and there is at least some history on their side, too, which makes this feel like the kind of game that could quietly set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]