The Cubs did more than one bit of deadline shopping for their rotation, and one of the names they kicked around was a pitcher who never made it to Chicago.
According to FanSided’s Pat Ragazzo, the Cubs had interest in then-Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early before he was dealt to the Washington Nationals. Ragazzo wrote, "One of the other many names that the Cubs front office and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer discussed has now come to light. The Cubs had interest in then Boston Red Sox left-handed starter Connelly Early ahead of the deadline, as sources tell FanSided," Ragazzo wrote.
Early, a young controllable arm, was on the radar as Chicago worked through its pitching options. He entered the season as one of Boston’s top prospects and was named the Red Sox’s starter for Game 3 of last year’s Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.
The lefty has posted a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts this season, but he has not pitched for the Nationals because of posterior elbow inflammation. Ragazzo said that injury makes the Cubs’ missed connection with Early less important in the short term.
"So while the 24-year-old Early would have been a nice piece for the Cubs' future, coming along with six years of control, he might not pitch again this year as a result of his elbow injury," Ragazzo wrote. "He could begin a rehab assignment next week, but we're running out of time in the regular season."
Chicago still addressed the rotation before the deadline, landing right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays, Clay Holmes from the New York Mets and lefty David Peterson in a separate deal with the Mets. Those moves gave the Cubs a better setup heading into the postseason, even if Early was part of the broader pitching search.
The additions also put Chicago in a stronger spot as it chases its first World Series title since 2016.
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