The Chicago Cubs are expected to be one of the more active teams at MLB‘s trade deadline, which is rapidly approaching. Chicago has two strong lefty starters, Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd, but they lack a formidable right-handed arm.
Chicago has had a stellar first half of the 2025 season, but the Milwaukee Brewers are hunting them down in the National League Central, which looks like one of the best division races into August and September.
There was recent news that the Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to make all their assets available before the trade deadline.
Trade Pitch Sends Merrill Kelly to Chicago
Merrill Kelly is one of the pitchers, along with starter Zac Gallen, who is expected to garner some trade calls from various teams. However, teams should be eyeing Kelly, who has been much better than Zac Gallen this season. Gallen’s ERA is over 5.50, and he has taken the ball every fifth day. Kelly has been the true ace of the Diamondbacks this season. In this recent trade pitch, the Diamondbacks complete a trade with the Chicago Cubs to acquire Kelly to help bolster their starting rotation.
Kelly has a 3.41 ERA in 111 innings this season. He also has 107 strikeouts, so Kelly can still strike out hitters at a high rate despite not having an overpowering fastball.
For the Diamondbacks, it appears they are expected to be sellers at the trade deadline this season. With the likes of Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, Arizona can get a boatload of assets if it were to move off the two sluggers. Arizona is four games below .500, and in an extremely tough National League this season, they would have to get white hot down the stretch if they wanted any chance of making the playoffs. Since that doesn’t sound feasible, it makes sense they are taking calls on their most attractive trade candidates.
What Would Chicago Have to Give Up?
Merrill Kelly is set to be a free agent after this season, so considering he may just be a rental addition, it wouldn’t cost the Chicago Cubs as much as it should. A good return for Arizona would be the Cubs’ fourth-ranked prospect, Kevin Alcántara. Alcántara is in Triple-A at the moment, and is an outfielder who could see MLB time as early as this year.
Since the Cubs have genuine aspirations of making it to the Fall Classic, a deal like this is one they should highly consider. Although their two lefties have been great all season, lacking a true dominant righty will not take them very far. As noted, the National League is extremely tough this season, and to compete with teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago will need a three-man deep rotation that can take the ball in the playoffs. And for Kelly, he’s been a great playoff pitcher when he’s taken the mound in October.
As the July 31st deadline looms, keep an eye on the Chicago Cubs to make a blockbuster deal for a starting pitcher.
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