Cubs reportedly already scouring trade market |
Dustin Riese
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- Tuesday, April 22 2025
Given what the Cubs have shown us through the first month of the season, this is an excellent baseball team that will only get better as the season goes on. A big reason for their early-season success has been a relentless offense that ranks No. 1 in baseball in runs scored while ranking in the top five in most offensive categories.
That alone has helped them overcome some of their bullpen struggles, as the bullpen once again has been one of the worst units in baseball. As good as the offense has been, their level of play isn't going to be sustainable all season, and when they do cool off, it will be up to the pitching to hold down the fort. That was the Cubs' strength last season and, for the most part, has been their strength the past few years. However, Craig Counsell and his staff are going to have to maneuver this season. They lost Justin Steele for the season with an elbow injury and saw their No. 5 starter, Javier Assad, miss all of spring with an Oblique injury. Assad is due back in the near future, but given how Colin Rea has pitched in place of Steele, Assad may wind up in the pen for now. Still, when you look at the Cubs' rotation, apart from Shota Imanaga, no one fears this rotation, no matter how good they pitch. That is why it's imperative that they add to the rotation at some point this season. According to Bruce Levine, Jed Hoyer has already started doing his homework, as the Cubs could hit the trade market sooner than many expected. As predicted, several big-time starters are on the Cubs' list for guys to target, with Sandy Alcantara at the top. The Ace of the Marlins staff and former Cy Young winner has bounced back nicely from Tommy John and is starting to look like his old self again, despite what his 7.27 ERA says. He is still rounding back into form, and there is a reason why the Marlins have said they don't plan to trade him anytime soon. Now, if his struggles continue, that could open the door for business, and you can bet the Cubs will be one of the first teams to call. The only question on that side is, what would it take to get a deal done? Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros are two names to watch, as it will take one, if not both, to land a player like Alcantara.
While Alcantara may be the top name on the market this summer, the Cubs have their eyes on several other names, including a pair of Cardinal pitchers in Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde. Gray has rejuvenated his career since joining the Cardinals, and at 3-0 this season with a 3.41 ERA, he continues to show why he can still be a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Fedde, on the other hand, was just happy to get out of Chicago, where he endured a horrendous 2023 with the White Sox. The Cardinals were one of those teams that didn't hold last season against him, and with a 1-2 record to start the season and a 3.33 ERA, he has shown them he is much better than what he showed last season.
Given the Cardinals' current situation, trading with the Cubs may not be as far fetched as it once was. The Cubs are looking to cut ties with some of their higher-paid players, including Gray. The Cardinals would love to restock the farm and once again build from within.
The final starting pitcher to keep an eye on is a name linked to the Cubs all offseason, in Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo Lopez. Currently in AAA on a rehab stint, Lopez got off to a great start this season as he is 1-1 with a sub-1.7 ERA. Like the Cardinals, the Twins are desperate to trade some of their bigger contracts, and Lopez seems like the most likely candidate to be dealt this season. He has been linked to the Cubs for several seasons, and you wonder if this will be the year something gets done.
Not only are the Cubs looking for starting pitching help, but Levine dove further into the situation as the team is also looking for late-inning lockdown relievers. As good as Ryan Pressly has been lately, you still have some worries about him, while it's the rest of the guys who are giving Counsell the headaches right now. Adding just one high-leverage lockdown arm could be the difference, and Mason Miller is the name that keeps popping up.
The former starter turned closer has been turning heads the past two seasons and will once again be a highly sought-after name should the Athletics post him for trades. Armed with a fastball in the triple digits, Miller dominated hitters in 2024, striking out 104 batters in 65 innings, which is good for nearly 42%.
He is well on pace to put up even better numbers this season as he currently leads all relievers with 13.3 strikeouts per nine while holding the opposition to 0.57 WHIP. That is about as lockdown as lockdown could get, and any team willing to trade for him will be tough to beat. The biggest hangup to acquire him is the 4.5 years of control that come with him.
Sure, adding him would solidify your closer role for the foreseeable future, but getting a guy like that with that much control will cost you the farm and then some. It's very tough to give up that much for a closer, but Miller isn't your ordinary closer, as he would net a similar package to what the Guardians are asking for Emmanuel Clase.
This is only the start of what should be a busy few months for the Cubs, as they have proven to be a great team despite their current holes. The only thing that will prevent them from adding to this roster would be falling out of contention by July, and should that happen, get ready for a rough summer.
