Two separate ten game winning streaks. And yet the Chicago Cubs sit at 39-36, third in the NL Central, eight games back of the division lead. That’s the kind of season that makes you scratch your head — flashes of brilliance buried inside a frustrating, inconsistent grind.
The trade deadline is coming. And there’s no mystery left about what Chicago needs to fix.
Starting Pitching. Obviously.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden compiled a list of every team’s biggest deadline need by contacting front office representatives directly — and for the Cubs the answer came back loud and clear. Starting pitching. Not the inconsistent offense. Not the bullpen. The rotation, plain and simple.
And honestly, once you look at the carnage Chicago’s pitching staff has endured this season, it’s hard to argue with that assessment.
A Rotation In Genuine Crisis
Let’s run through the casualty list properly because it’s genuinely brutal. Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele — all have spent time on the injured list this season. Horton is done for the year entirely after Tommy John surgery. Steele has yet to even make his season debut. Boyd, the Opening Day starter, has managed just five appearances through a litany of physical setbacks.
This isn’t bad luck striking once or twice. This is an entire rotation collapsing in slow motion over the course of a season.
According to Bowden, the Cubs have made their priorities crystal clear to opposing front offices. “The Cubs have made it clear to opposing front offices that trading for starting pitching is their top priority, and they’ve been making those calls and texts for weeks.” Chicago has the roster depth at both major and minor league levels to swing another significant deal — similar to the offseason trade that brought in Cabrera. If only that rotation could have stayed healthy in the first place.
Who Could Actually Be Available
There’s still plenty of time before the early August deadline, and a lot can change between now and then. If the rotation gets healthier, the Cubs might only need a back end arm rather than a genuine difference maker.
Tarik Skubal is almost certainly off the table — Chicago isn’t likely to surrender serious prospect capital for a two time Cy Young winner they may not even be able to re-sign long term. More realistic targets include Freddy Peralta of the Mets, Joe Ryan of the Twins or Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins. All three carry proven track records of delivering quality, consistent innings — exactly what this battered rotation desperately needs.
Why Patience Might Actually Be The Smartest Play
Here’s the cautionary tale worth remembering. Last year’s Rafael Devers trade didn’t end up rescuing the San Francisco Giants, who finished at .500 and missed the playoffs entirely despite the splashy midseason addition. A blockbuster move doesn’t automatically guarantee a turnaround.
So the most sensible path for Chicago might actually be patience — waiting to see how the health situation develops, how the standings shake out, and whether a back end depth piece is enough rather than overcommitting prospect capital too early.
But one thing is undeniable. Without reliable, consistent starting pitching, this Cubs season risks slipping away entirely. The talent is there. The injuries have been brutal. And now the front office has roughly six weeks to figure out exactly how to fix it. ⚾🔥
