The Cubs are sitting in second place in the National League Central after the All-Star break, and that leaves them in a familiar spot: alive in the race, but probably staring at a Wild Card path if they get into October.
At the center of Chicago’s trade deadline picture is one obvious problem. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller put it bluntly: the Cubs need pitching, and they need a lot of it.
“The Cubs have one pitcher who has been worth more than 1.0 WAR according to Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs, and that one pitcher-swingman Ben Brown-has been on the IL for a month with a stress reaction in his neck," Miller wrote. "Starters.
Closers. Middle relievers.
The Cubs could use 'em all."
Brown’s absence has only sharpened the issue, because the rest of the staff has not done enough to make up for it. Chicago has been leaning on a rotation that has been battered by injuries all year.
Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon have all spent time on the IL in 2026. Horton is out for the season. Shota Imanaga has stayed on the field, but his 19 starts have produced mixed results.
That leaves the Cubs in a spot where almost any pitching lane at the deadline makes sense. They could chase a major name such as Tarik Skubal or Freddy Peralta if those arms become available.
They could also look at a steadier veteran like Michael Wacha to help the rotation. And that’s before even getting to the bullpen, which also needs attention.
The bottom line is simple: Chicago needs more arms, and the deadline is the place to get them.
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Cubs First Round Pick Already Sounds Like The Arm Fans Wanted
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Townsend already sounds like the sort of arm Cubs fans were hoping for when the front office started stockpiling pitchers. He has the stuff to miss bats, the mentality to attack hitters, and the projection to climb quickly through the system, which matters for a club that is clearly trying to build depth before the shape of its rotation changes. The bigger question now is how soon that polish turns into production, and how aggressive Chicago will be in pushing him along. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Painful Deadline Call On Young Talent
The Cubs are widely expected to shop for major-league pitching at the 2026 trade deadline, and that kind of push usually comes with a cost. For a front office trying to improve a contender without emptying the system, the most realistic currency is often the group of young players who have either been squeezed by the big-league roster or built enough value at Triple-A to draw attention from other clubs.
That is where Chicagos dilemma gets a little painful. The organization has several appealing young pieces who could help bring back pitching, but the decision is complicated by fit as much as talent, with some blocked by established regulars and others forcing the issue with strong stretches in Iowa. It is the sort of deadline calculation that can shape a contender for years, because the Cubs will have to decide whether the next move is about protecting the future or using it to patch the present. [Read more 🡒]