As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just 10 days away, it is now or never for teams like the Chicago Cubs to make a big splash in the starting pitcher market. Now, in an extremely tight division race with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs need arms to keep up.
Chicago has a strong top two in their rotation with southpaws Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga. Both can give length whenever they take the ball, and both can be deceptive with their deliveries. However, what the Cubs don’t have is a right-handed starter who can get the job done in a five or seven-game series. Jameson Taillon could be an option, but he’s now on the Injured List, and past that, the Cubs’ rotation is starting to falter.
Blockbuster Trade Idea Sends Seth Lugo to Chicago
In what would be a huge splash for the Chicago Cubs, they should seriously consider trading for the Kansas City Royals’ starter, Seth Lugo.
In an updated “top 50 trade candidates” piece by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, Lugo is ranked fifth on the list, and the two insiders give it an 80% chance he gets moved.
“Lugo has posted mid-3.00s or lower ERAs for five seasons despite having below-average fastball velocity and good-not-great strikeout rates. His ability to strand runners and limit hard contact comes in part thanks to his nine different pitches. With a Nathan Eovaldi-type contract awaiting Lugo in free agency, Kansas City could opt to move him, especially if Cole Ragans’s shoulder doesn’t improve,” writes Passan and McDaniel.
The Cubs were listed as one of the best fits, and since he’s on an expiring contract, it may not cost Chicago that much capital. Lugo is having another impressive season after being named an All-Star in 2024. He has made 18 starts to the tune of a 2.94 ERA over 107 innings and 93 strikeouts. Lugo finished 2024 with a flat 3.00 ERA with 206.2 innings.
While he isn’t on pace for another 200-inning season, Lugo is the exact type of arm the Cubs could use for a playoff push.
What Would This Deal Cost Chicago?
As noted, Lugo is signed through this season and set to hit free agency this winter, which would make him a potential rental add for the Chicago Cubs. This likely drives the cost of the Kansas City Royals’ ace down a little bit, but they would likely still need assurance in the return package.
The Royals are four games below .500, and unlikely to make a push for the playoffs as the American League Wild Card spots are occupied by teams who are 5+ games above the .500 mark. This should lead them to sell off what they can, and Lugo is one of those players.
For the Cubs, they have World Series aspirations, but first, they have to worry about winning their division. As these last 10 or so games are played before the deadline, how the Royals (and Cubs) perform will be very revealing of their strategies. As far as return packages, the Royals could ask for players like Cade Horton and prospect Kevin Alcántara in return for Lugo. It might take more, but it’s unclear if the Cubs would want to move any of their position players and/or higher-ranked prospects.
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