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.
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Reyes had never worked out of the bullpen before, but he handled the final four innings without allowing a baserunner and picked up his first career save. For Kansas City, the bigger takeaway may be how Chourio has stacked strong outings on top of one another since a rough first start at the level, turning his promotion into something much more than a developmental checkpoint. The challenge now is whether he can keep carrying that momentum as the competition gets more demanding. [Read more 🡒]