The Chicago Cubs need arms, and they need them now.
In a season that’s been battered by injuries, the pitching staff has become the obvious pressure point. That puts the trade deadline squarely in the spotlight, with help needed both in the rotation and the bullpen. The rotation, though, looks like the more urgent fix, and one proposed deal would push the Cubs into a bold lane.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden floated a trade that would send Kansas City Royals starter Michael Wacha to Chicago in exchange for Matt Shaw and Kevin Alcantara. Bowden didn’t sugarcoat it, calling the package an “overpay,” but he also argued it would be worth it for the Cubs.
“Cubs receive: Michael Wacha: RHP. Royals receive: Matt Shaw, INF/OF; Kevin Alcantara, OF,” Bowden proposed.
"... I think this deal is an overpay by the Cubs, but it should be worth it to land a veteran starter like Wacha, especially given there are so few starting pitchers on the market right now."
That’s a hefty price tag. Shaw and Alcantara are both 24-year-old prospects who have already reached the majors, and while Shaw has looked good, Alcantara has had some struggles. Parting with both would sting, especially for a pitcher who isn’t being framed as an ace-level addition.
Wacha, however, brings plenty to the table. The 35-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.77 ERA, 2.1 bWAR, and a 108 ERA+ across 119.1 innings this season. He was also an All-Star this year.
The other part of the appeal is the contract. Wacha is signed through the 2027 season on a three-year, $51 million deal, which would give the Cubs an extra year of club control after 2026. There’s also a 2028 club option, giving Chicago a path to keep him even longer if he keeps performing.
So yes, it would be a steep move. Bowden said as much himself. But with the market thin and the American League wide open, the chance to land a controllable veteran starter like Wacha may be the kind of swing the Cubs have to consider.
In Other News...
Jed Hoyer Just Got A Trade Deadline Opening Cubs Fans Needed
The Cubs are expected to be active buyers ahead of the trade deadline, and the Mets could be one of the more interesting places for Jed Hoyer to shop. New York has already been linked to several potential sellers, and the two clubs have a recent history of getting deals done, which makes another match feel very much in play as Chicago looks for help and the Mets sort through their own priorities.
For the Cubs, the appeal is obvious: they need pitching depth, and the deadline is shaping up to offer a path without forcing them to empty the cupboard. One name to watch on Chicagos side is Josiah Hartshorn, who is not expected to be moved in a rental deal, a sign the front office is trying to balance urgency with restraint. If the Cubs and Mets do line up again, the real question is how far Hoyer is willing to go to turn that opening into something meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Rumors Just Put Cubs Fans On Edge
Tarik Skubals name is already doing what ace rumors always do in July: forcing contenders to imagine a rotation they do not currently have. The Tigers left-hander has kept his value high despite a recent injury, and that has made him one of the most intriguing arms in the deadline conversation as clubs weigh whether to chase impact now or settle for lesser help.
For the Cubs, the fit is obvious enough to make the speculation sting. Their rotation has been hit hard, with Justin Steele and Cade Horton out for the rest of the season and Aaron Civale serving as a stopgap, so any talk of a frontline starter naturally lands in Chicagos lap. Whether Detroit ever actually lets Skubal reach the market is the bigger question, and it is the one keeping Cubs fans on edge as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Fans Wont Love Where This Failed Bullpen Move Resurfaced
A familiar name from the Braves bullpen shuffle has resurfaced, this time with the Royals taking a low-risk flier on left-hander Aaron Bummer. Kansas City signed him to a minor league contract, a move that gives the club another experienced arm to stash without much financial exposure while Bummer tries to rebuild value after a rocky stretch in Atlanta and a brief stop with the Cubs.
Bummers recent run has been hard to ignore, with the Braves decision to move on coming after he allowed 13 earned runs in 15.1 innings. His Cubs stint was even shorter, ending after he opted out of a minor league deal following just six combined innings between the Arizona Complex League and Triple-A Iowa, and now the question is whether the Royals can get enough out of him to justify a call-up while Atlanta remains tied to his current salary. [Read more 🡒]