Chicago Cubs fans got a fresh dose of deadline-season suspense Thursday night when pitching prospect Mason McGwire, originally lined up to start for Class-A South Bend, was scratched and replaced by Flanagan.
That kind of late change always turns heads this time of year. The Cubs aren’t required to issue injury updates on minor leaguers, so there’s been no official explanation for why McGwire didn’t take the ball. And in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, a scratched start can mean just about anything: workload management, an injury, or a possible deal in the works.
McGwire has been one of the more notable arms in the system this season. He earned a spot in the MLB All-Star Futures Game and has put together a strong year at South Bend, posting a 2.89 ERA across 56 innings while striking out more than 31% of the hitters he’s faced.
The timing is what makes the situation interesting. Pitching is the area the Cubs are expected to target ahead of the deadline, and that naturally raises the question of what they’d be willing to move to get it.
Before the draft, the organization didn’t have much pitching depth to talk about in trade discussions. That changed after the Cubs selected 16 pitchers in the 2026 MLB draft.
Because of that, it’s at least plausible that McGwire or Jaxon Wiggins could come up in a trade conversation. If the Cubs were to part with either one, they’d almost certainly need to be getting a starting pitcher back who remains under control beyond the 2026 season. A rental wouldn’t make much sense for where the Cubs are right now.
Of course, this may turn out to be nothing at all. McGwire’s missed start could simply be a case of the Cubs watching his workload, which they already did earlier this season when he went about three weeks without making a start. That approach would fit a pattern the team has used before with Wiggins and Cade Horton.
For now, the only real certainty is uncertainty. Until McGwire either takes the mound again for South Bend or news surfaces that he’s been traded, the Cubs’ minor-league pitching picture remains exactly what it looks like in late July: a guessing game.
In Other News...
Cubs Finally Linked To A Real Bullpen Answer Before The Deadline
The Cubs are expected to spend the final stretch before the trade deadline looking for pitching help, and the search is not limited to one area. Chicago has needs in both the rotation and the bullpen, which makes any potential deal with the Mets worth watching closely as the front office tries to balance immediate help with longer-term value.
One name that has surfaced as a fit is a reliever who has been effective this season and comes with more than just a short-term rental profile. He is under contract beyond this year, and for a Cubs club still sorting out the late innings, that kind of stability could matter just as much as the arm itself if the team decides to make a real push. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Prospect Move Suddenly Puts One Young Outfielder On Notice
James Triantos is expected to join the Cubs ahead of their game against the Pirates, a move that adds another young name to a roster still sorting out its future. The corresponding shuffle has put Kevin Alcantara in an awkward spot, especially for a player who has been viewed as part of the organizations next wave in the outfield.
There is no trade reported involving Alcantara, but the timing of this move has only added to the sense that his path in Chicago is getting narrower. For now, the Cubs are simply making room for Triantos, yet the bigger question is whether this is just a temporary roster decision or the latest sign that Alcantara is no longer being treated as a long-term answer in the outfield. [Read more 🡒]