It’s officially trade season in the MLB! We only have a few more days until the trade deadline, and we should expect to see many deals made. The Chicago Cubs are likely going to be one of the most aggressive teams, as they sit tied for the best record in the National League. In terms of runs scored and OPS, Chicago has the second-best offense in the NL, trailing only the Dodgers. Their only hole in the lineup is at third base, where they should make an upgrade. The other area that needs improvement is in the pitching department.
Cubs’ Pitching Needs
The Cubbies came into this season with two aces in the starting rotation, but unfortunately lost Justin Steele for the year early on to injury. Luckily, 34-year-old Matthew Boyd has stepped up this season. He made his first career All-Star game this year and has pitched like one of the best in the business with a 2.20 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 118.2 innings. The problem for the Cubs is that outside of Boyd and Shota Imanaga, they lack a high-quality starter. Jameson Taillon had been a solid third starter, but he also caught the injury bug and is expected to be out until mid-August.
The Cubs need to get a starter (or two) to pull themselves away from the rival Brewers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently stated that they “desperately want another starter at the deadline.” He went on to link the team to Mitch Keller and said they are willing to part with top prospect Owen Cassie. Then, earlier this morning, the Cubs were also reported to be interested in Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
MacKenzie Gore Rumors
If Gore is moved, he could very well be the best player traded this deadline. The 26-year-old stud made his first All-Star game this season and has improved every season throughout his big league career. This year, he’s posted a 3.52 ERA and 144 strikeouts over 117.2 innings. The lefty throws a pitch mix consisting of a fastball, curveball, slider, change-up, and cutter. In addition to his overall numbers, Gore has his career high in whiff, strikeout, and chase rates. The added benefit of trading for Gore is that he’s under team control through the 2027 season. For that reason, he will cost plenty of prospect capital to acquire.
Mitch Keller Rumors
Similar to Gore, Keller is having the best season of his career. He is in the 92nd percentile in pitching run value with a 3.53 ERA over 125 innings. Keller is under contract through to the 2028 season at a reasonable rate. The problem with swinging a deal for him is that he is outperforming his expected numbers and is well above his career averages. The expectation should be that he will regress from his current numbers. The Pirates’ starter may not be the same caliber of pitcher as Gore. Still, he’d be a solid addition.
What to Expect From the Cubs
Even if the Cubs don’t end up trading for Gore or Keller, it’s clear they will do whatever it takes to improve their rotation. Other names linked to Chicago include Adrian Houser, Edward Cabrera, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen. No matter who they add, expect Owen Cassie, Jaxon Wiggins, and many other prospects to be discussed in trades this week. The Cubs are attempting to build a roster capable of winning the World Series. That won’t come cheap.
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