The Cubs front office is going to be active in the upcoming days regarding potential trades. They are searching for a pitcher and possibly a third baseman. Several rumors have been circulating in recent weeks regarding potential trade targets. If the Cubs could grab a few players to fill their holes, they would become true World Series contenders. Who are some of the guys on their radar?
Who Will the Cubs Go After at the Trade Deadline?
Starting Pitchers
The Cubs have expressed interest in several starting pitchers. Two Marlins pitchers, Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara, have been on their radar for a while. While Alcantara is having a down year, Cabrera has performed well, and the Cubs had a scout in Miami for his most recent start, according to Matt Cozzi. Another big name is MacKenzie Gore, who has serious ace potential. He would cost a hefty amount, but Jeff Passan believes he would be the best fit for the Cubs. Additionally, recent opponent and Royals pitcher Seth Lugo is a candidate. He has been very solid this year, and the Cubs reportedly checked in with the Royals. A name that had buzz surrounding it a few weeks ago is Pirates RHP Mitch Keller. The Cubs were in talks regarding him, which have since cooled off a bit. Finally, the Diamondbacks duo of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly could be their guys. The Cubs have checked in with the Diamondbacks, who recently announced they’re planning to sell, according to Ken Rosenthal.
While these aren’t all the possible starters they could trade for, these are the main candidates. For example, guys like Dylan Cease, Taj Bradley, Joe Ryan, and Kris Bubic could also be traded for. Expect that by the deadline, the Cubs will trade for at least one, if not more than one, of these guys. The Cubs have a healthy number of prospects to trade, but may not give up some of their top guys. Regardless, getting one or two more starting pitchers to bolster their rotation would be enormous for them down the stretch.
Relief Pitchers
Along with starting pitching help, the Cubs have expressed interest in many relievers. Most recently, the Cubs have shown interest in Guardians closer Emanuel Clase. While he hasn’t been as good as he was last year, he would still be a great addition to the bullpen. Next, a pair of Twins relievers in Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran could be traded. They have both been lights out this year, but according to Jeff Passan, the asking price for them is through the roof. Finally, Rays Closer, Pete Fairbanks, is a name to watch closely. He has played his part well this year, and Bruce Levine says that the Cubs have talked to Tampa Bay about Fairbanks. The Cubs are working hard to get relievers, but the Rays are reluctant on that front due to injuries, according to Levine.
The Cubs’ need for relievers is far less than their need for starters. Their bullpen has been surprisingly good this season, but there are questions about their longevity and ability to produce as the season continues. As with their starting pitching, adding one or two more relievers would put them in an excellent position for the rest of the season.
Third Basemen
The third base position is the least of the Cubs’ worries when it comes to trades, but it would be great if they could get a guy. The one player, far and above all, is Eugenio Suárez of the Diamondbacks. He is going to be the target of several contending teams, including the Cubs. Suárez has been a monster at the plate with an OPS of .918. Although Matt Shaw has been better since the All-Star break, Suárez would be a huge upgrade at third. If the Cubs got him, he would not be cheap, but they could package him with Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly. One other possible target is Twins utility man Willi Castro. The switch-hitter has had a decent year and could also potentially be packaged with one of the Twins pitchers on the trade block.
For the Cubs, not getting a third baseman wouldn’t be the end of the world. Although third base has been their biggest hole in the field this year, they still have one of the best offenses in the league. If they could make it even better at a decent price, that would be wonderful, but it is not a necessity.
Overall, this should be a big deadline for the Cubs. Expect them to go all in and do whatever it takes to build a World Series-contending team.
Main Photo Credits: David Banks-Imagn Images
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