Cubs Live
Despite a slow start and periods of inconsistency, the Cubs had a successful first half of the season and were able to head into the All-Star break with the best record in the National League at 55-38. The offense is booming on all cylinders, which is a pleasant surprise considering the notable struggles of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
While their struggles aren’t anything to be seriously concerned about, the pitching for the Cubs is an area that may need attention. I’m aware that the Cubs have the second-best ERA and Batting Average Against in the National League and that they lead the league in shutouts. A large part of their success has been their bullpen, and while they have been outstanding top to bottom, they’re in danger of being over-used. That’s why there have been chatter about the Cubs trading to boost their rotation. Theo Epstein has gone on the record saying he doesn’t expect to make a blockbuster deal at the deadline and that the issues the Cubs have can be solved within the clubhouse. That doesn’t change the fact that there’s a pitcher on the market already worth 6.0 WAR with a 1.68 ERA. Jacob deGrom, the 30-year-old stud for the New York Mets, is either going to be offered an extension very soon or will be dealt before the deadline to a contender. Despite the Cubs success, a regression from Jon Lester is to be expected, Jose Quintana and Kyle Hendricks are trending upwards but are inconsistent, Yu Darvish is a massive question mark and Tyler Chatwood cannot be trusted. This team will only go as far as their pitching, and deGrom can take this team from good to elite in an instant. deGrom is signed for the next three years to an affordable contract so the Cubs wouldn’t have to break the bank to get him, but it would cost some key players. The Cubs don’t have the prospects anymore to pull off a blockbuster deal, but they’re deep enough to land a player like deGrom. I’m not a GM, but my guess is that it would cost the Cubs Ian Happ/Albert Almora/Addison Russell as the center piece of the trade followed by Mike Montgomery, David Bote, and some minor league prospects as well. While that is a lot to give up for a pitcher that’s already 30, the rotation in Chicago would be Lester, deGrom, Hendricks, Quintana and Darvish. If they’re all healthy, who’s the weak spot there? They’d also all be together for the next three years, so the rotation moving forward would be set in stone while keeping the bulk of this star-studded offensive cast together. I don’t want to lose Russell, Happ or Almora. They are all valuable players, but the Cubs have the ability to fill those holes with players they currently have. deGrom is pitching the best baseball of his life and the Cubs need that anchor in this rotation. Chatwood wouldn’t be needed and Darvish could take as long as he needs to get ready. While this deal is unlikely to happen, it’s fun to imagine the possibilities of this rotation for the next three years.
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Kyle MalzhanFounder who is an aspiring journalist who covers the Chicago Cubs daily. Archives
April 2020
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