The Cubs’ biggest deadline need is staring them right in the face: starting pitching.
Chicago’s rotation has been hit hard by injuries, with Cade Horton and Justin Steele both seeing their seasons derailed. Edward Cabrera is hurt, too, and he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up on the mound. That leaves the Cubs with a clear problem to solve before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller put it bluntly: "At this point, it's looking like they'll be crossing their fingers with Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga in the first two games of the postseason," Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote.
He also noted, "And they're both impending free agents, so Chicago is presumably searching for more than just rentals to address the rotation," Miller added.
If the Cubs are looking for a more stable answer, Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins makes a lot of sense. He’d be a stronger option than anyone currently in Chicago’s rotation, especially in a postseason series where the first game can swing everything.
Ryan is a two-time All-Star and comes with one year of control after the 2026 season. His fastball command has been a major weapon, and that has helped him strike out 10.3 batters per nine innings this year.
Miller called him exactly what the Cubs would want at the top of a playoff rotation: "Though Joe Ryan just got shelled for six home runs by the Guardians on Monday, he has otherwise had an excellent season and could be the no-brainer G1 starter for the Cubs-if the Twins end up selling," Miller added.
Of course, that part is out of Chicago’s hands. The Twins have to decide to sell before any deal can happen, so Cubs fans should be watching Minnesota’s place in the standings closely over the next week or so.
In Other News...
Twins May Be Creating A Keaschall Problem They Cant Hide
Luke Keaschalls move from second base into the outfield has become one of the more interesting side projects on the Twins roster. Since June, Minnesota has tried him in right field and then in center during Byron Buxtons injury absence, and now that Buxton is back, Keaschall has settled again on the right side while the club keeps working to turn his athleticism into something usable in the grass.
The challenge is that the Twins are asking him to learn on the fly in a spot where mistakes are hard to hide. They have been shading him deeper in center to make the job easier as he develops, but that also changes the look of the defense and puts a spotlight on every read and route. Buxton can play shallower because of his elite range, and Keaschall is still trying to find the balance between protecting against balls over his head and being in position to attack the ones in front of him. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Lose Two Key Regulars If This Slide Gets Worse
A four-game skid has nudged the Twins farther from the American League Wild Card picture, and the timing matters with the Aug. 3 trade deadline closing in. Minnesota is sitting at 49-53, which is the kind of record that starts forcing difficult conversations about whether to push for a run or listen on established regulars while there is still value to be had.
Ryan Jeffers and Trevor Larnach are the names to watch if the slide continues. Jeffers is in the final year of his deal and has drawn attention from clubs looking for catching help, while Larnach remains under team control through 2027 and could become expendable if the Twins decide their outfield depth gives them room to deal from strength. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Ryan Just Became The Twins Trust Test
Joe Ryan has become one of the most interesting names on the Twins board as the trade deadline approaches, and not just because of what he does on the mound. He has pitched well enough to draw attention from contenders, and with team control beyond this season, he is the kind of arm that can bring back real value if Minnesota decides the time is right to move him.
The harder question is what kind of message that would send to a fan base that has already watched attendance sag at Target Field and has little appetite for another summer selloff. The Twins can talk themselves into several paths with Ryan, including holding him, moving him later, or cashing in now, but any deadline decision will land with more weight than a typical roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]