The Chicago Cubs have been one of the hottest teams in dealing on the trade market this winter and an MLB Insider says that another big move may on the horizon for the Chicago Cubs.
The Chicago Cubs accomplished one of their goals this off season by shoring up their bullpen and finding a late inning reliever for the 2025 season with their recent signing of veteran left-hander Caleb Thielbar. The other hole still needing to be filled that seems to be alluding the Chicago Cubs thus far this off season is finding that Ace for the starting rotation. Those woes however can soon go by the wayside with a new report by MLB Insider and columnist for The Athletic Sahadev Sharma says that the Chicago Cubs will add another big piece to their pitching depth writing:
“Whether it’s a trade in the coming weeks or a late free-agent signing before the spring, it seems inevitable that one more starting pitcher will be added,” he reported.”
All but Confirms a Trade is Coming
This insight by Sharma all but confirms that another trade, possibly a blockbuster is in the works for President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs. Hoyer, who enters into the final year of his contract has to make another move in my opinion to shore up him getting a contract extension after this season. By acquiring superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros earlier this winter, Hoyer in my opinion secured himself a contract extension. However, if owner and team chairman Tom Ricketts still have doubts on Jed Hoyer’s abilities to put together a winning roster, then securing a top tier Ace like pitcher would put those doubts to bed.
What is the Move Then?
With the Chicago Cubs having not only expressed their willingness to better their starting rotation through trades rather than the free agent market this off season. They have actively gone out and pursued those quotes with being rumored in a lot of starting pitching trade negotiations, and these quotes all but confirm those feelings from the Cubs. Since the Cubs traded away outfielder Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees for reliever Cody Poteet, that freed up their payroll of the $27.5 million that would’ve gone to Bellinger and can be used to take on a contract of a high-end starting pitcher.
I wrote an article a few days ago of a trade proposal between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago Cubs which would send the Minnesota outfielder Owen Caissie (Cubs #2, MLB #34) and first basemen/third basemen Cole Mathis (Cubs #11 prospect) in exchange for right-hander Pablo López. With Jed Hoyer telling The Athletics Patrick Mooney, expressing that the Cubs:
“We’ll continue to look for pitching,”
“It takes a lot of arms — a lot of really good arms — to get through the season.”
With manager Craig Cousel doubling down on Hoyer’s comments with his own telling Mooney:
“It’s just a place where you can’t get caught without depth, quality,” Counsell said. “You have to have it.”
I think trading for Pablo López is the move that the Chicago Cubs will make.
Why the Move Needs to Be for Pablo López
Pablo López would add so much value to an already stacked Chicago Cubs roster. Bringing in López to be the Ace of the staff with Shota Imanaga settling in a the two spot, Justin Steele at the three, Jameson Taillon in the fourth spot, and Javier Assad rounding out the rotation; the Chicago Cubs easily have one of the best staffs in all of Major League Baseball. López would provide the anchor the Cubs need in order to officially put the finishing touches on this off season and create the perfect roster to make a deep run in the playoff with.
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