Reid Detmers has become a name to watch in Cubs deadline chatter, and for good reason. Chicago is clearly hunting for rotation help ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, but the buzz around the league suggests the Cubs want more than a rental. They want a starter who can stick around beyond this season.
That’s where Detmers fits. He’s under control through the 2028 season, which instantly raises the cost and the appeal.
The Angels left-hander has a 4.05 ERA across 21 starts, but the deeper numbers tell a more interesting story: a 27.6% strikeout rate, a 7.% walk rate, and a 3.27 FIP. Those are the kinds of indicators that make front offices believe there’s another gear waiting to be unlocked.
The Cubs have obvious alternatives if they want to swing big. Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins and Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants stand out as the cleanest targets.
But those are the kinds of pitchers every team would love to land, and there’s no guarantee either club is willing to move them. That’s why Detmers has started to look like a more realistic path for Chicago.
The Angels’ deadline direction matters here, too. There’s a growing sense that John Mozeliak, despite still carrying the interim label, is prepared to make a major move to reset things in Anaheim.
If that’s the plan, then either Detmers or Soriano could be available. Soriano would make sense for the Cubs, but Detmers appears to be the one gaining the most traction.
If Chicago really wants to push this over the line, it probably won’t be cheap. Owen Ayers looks like the kind of player who would have to be part of the conversation. The Athletic recently reported that if the Angels move Soriano or Detmers, they would be looking for a young catcher, and that puts the Cubs in a strong position because of Ayers’ rise this season.
Even so, Ayers alone probably doesn’t get it done. His stock is up, but his projection hasn’t changed enough to make him the centerpiece of a Detmers deal. That’s why Jaxon Wiggins would likely have to be included as well, giving the Angels a high-ceiling pitching prospect to help offset the loss of Detmers.
Ayers and Wiggins together would be a painful price, but the Cubs could soften the blow with a third piece they’re more comfortable moving. With Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez on the roster, James Triantos looks like a logical trade chip. There’s overlap there, and it feels likely that one of those pieces could be moved before the deadline.
It would be a significant prospect haul, no question. But a trade for Detmers would also give the Cubs something they need right now and something they need next year. He’d help the rotation immediately, and he’d bring some much-needed clarity for 2026, especially with Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon all set to hit free agency and Cade Horton’s status for next season still uncertain.
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White Sox Deadline Buzz With Mets Could Reveal How Serious Chris Getz Is
The White Sox appear ready to spend the next few days testing how far their deadline plans can go, and the early signs point to a front office trying to improve without stripping down the farm system. Chicago has made starting pitching the main priority as it pushes for a playoff spot, but catching has also emerged as a real need after Kyle Teels latest injury and uneven production from Edgar Quero and Drew Romo.
Chris Getzs approach is starting to take shape in a way that could define the rest of the summer. The Sox have drawn a line on their top 10 prospects, yet they are open to taking on a contract if it helps them land the pitching they want, which is the kind of deadline posture that can lead to a useful upgrade if the right deal surfaces. The Mets have come up in those catcher conversations, and the next move will say plenty about how aggressively Chicago intends to attack this market. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Linked To A Starter Who Could Change Everything
The search for pitching help at the deadline has put the White Sox in the mix for a name that would carry more than a short-term fix. Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers has drawn trade interest after returning to the rotation and pitching well this season, and Chicago is among the clubs keeping tabs as the Angels weigh whether to move controllable players and restock their farm system.
For the Sox, the appeal is obvious. Sean Burke and Davis Martin have provided strong stretches, but the rotation still feels thin and unstable overall, which makes a pitcher with club control through 2028 especially attractive. The question now is whether Chicago is willing to pay the kind of price that could pry away a starter the Angels may view as a long-term piece, and that part of the market figures to get interesting fast. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans May Need To Rethink Luisangel Acuna
Luisangel Acuna arrived in Chicago as part of the deal that sent Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets, and his first look with the White Sox did not go smoothly. Early in 2026, he was asked to handle center field, a spot that did not fit nearly as cleanly as the organization hoped, but the team has since found a better way to use him by shifting him into a bench role and giving him more time at shortstop.
The change has mattered. Acuna has looked far more comfortable on the infield, and his recent play has turned him into a useful utility piece rather than just a name from a big trade. With Jacob Gonzalez now gone, he is also the only true backup infielder on the roster, which gives the White Sox a decision to make about whether this is the role that sticks or whether his value might be even higher somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]