Cubs Offseason Trade Options: Starting Pitching |
There wasn't a whole lot that went right for the Cubs this past season, but one thing you could count on was strong starting pitching. From start to finish, the Cubs had one of the best-starting staffs in baseball, and they will continue to rely on that next season.
With Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon set to return, the top three in the Cubs rotation will be right up there with the best in the National League. Beyond those three is where the questions come into play as Kyle Hendricks has entered free agency, Javier Assad remains solid but not fit to be a long-term starter, while guys like Hayden Wesneski, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown, and several others dealt with injuries last season thus derailing what could've been a solid season. If the Cubs want to be taken seriously next season or even in a best-of-five playoff series, they need to add at least one more starting pitcher to the mix. When you look at the list of available arms, they will have plenty to choose from. It has already been reported that the Cubs are going to look at Nathan Eovaldi as an option, but with Corbin Burnes also set to hit the open market, expect the Cubs to make a massive play to reunite him with Craig Counsell. Burnes, Jack Flaherty, Max Fried, and Walker Buehler are all free-agent options for this team, but adding any one of those guys will cost this team a pretty penny, and we all know how this team operates when the funds get tight. Enter the trade market, where there could be plenty of options for this team to pursue, depending on the cost. Blake Snell has already been mentioned, but it doesn't seem like a logical fit, given that the Giants are looking to get better, not worse. Chris Paddock was once seen as one of the game's bright stars, but a series of injuries have derailed his career, and he is now on the short end of what could be a minor-league deal to keep his career alive. Perhaps the most intriguing name to keep an eye on is Jordan Montgomery. He was a Cubs target last season, but he ultimately chose to sign with Arizona. Coming off one of the best postseason runs in the last decade, Montgomery endured a horrendous 2024 season, which shouldn't come as a surprise when you look at how late he signed. However, instead of chalking this season up and giving him a fresh start next year, the GM of the Diamondbacks completely threw him under the bus by saying it was a mistake to sign Montgomery. You have to wonder how that relationship is and if the Dbacks will look to unload him for the cheap. This would be a great addition to the Cubs rotation and would fit right in the middle as he would enter the 2025 season with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. As expected, the Miami Marlins have plenty of arms expected to be on the block this season, with Jesus Luzardo being one of them. Luzardo was a trade target for the Cubs during the 2023 season and was once again being discussed last offseason. Could the third year be the charm if they enter these talks again? At 27 years old, Luzardo is finally coming into his own as a pitcher and really started to show his talent in 2023, making him an intriguing target for anyone. He is a lefty who throws hard with high strikeout rates and goes deep into games. As has been the case with a lot of pitchers the past few seasons, health has been an issue for him, and Luzardo has dealt with some shoulder issues that limited him to just 12 starts last season. When he made those starts, they were ineffective at best, and you have to wonder if the injury contributed to that. If the Marlins intend to rebuild quickly, they may want to hold on to him, but who knows if the price is right? Should the Cubs want to make a splash and go all out for a surprising move, why not inquire about Chicago White Sox Ace Garrett Crochet, who is clearly unhappy about his innings limit and not getting an extension? Armed with a 97 MPH heater that can top triple digits, Crochet emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball last season, as indicated by his 35.1% strikeout rate. He was one of the most sought-after starters during the deadline, but for some reason, the White Sox elected to hang onto him despite posting the worst season in MLB history. Expect his market to heat up this winter, and the Cubs should look to be involved. Trading for him won't come cheap, and you can expect the White Sox to go after everyone, but with Will Venable taking over as Manager, he may look to keep him in the rotation a bit longer.
