The Chicago Cubs need pitching. That’s certainly no secret.

More News: Chicago Cubs prospect named as ideal trade bait ahead of deadline

After all, this is a playoff-caliber team currently with four starting pitchers on the shelf and a handful of relievers out of commission, including their closer.

With the August 3 MLB trade deadline approaching—and the pennant race tightening up—there will be a mad dash to find teams operating as sellers, especially when it comes to pitching.

The Cubs will now be able to identify at least one team as a sure-thing seller—the New York Mets.

The Mets are officially sellers

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deadline aggression may hinge on one key factor

Per Chelsea Janes, SNY MLB Insider, the Mets front office has declared themselves “open for business:”

“A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and the obvious, Juan Soto, is available. That doesn’t mean everyone will go. But it means the Mets will listen on just about everyone, which is in keeping with what people familiar with their thinking have signaled for weeks.

That the Mets are fielding calls already suggests they will be spreading out their sell-off over several weeks, rather than waiting until the week of the deadline when the market has settled and time constraints create a more frenetic process.”

For the Cubs, specifically, that means Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver, and Brooks Raley could make their way to the team’s shopping list.

Converted starter Holmes has been sidelined since mid-May with a fractured fibula, but is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon. Peralta, meanwhile, has had a down season so far. Both would be rentals (Holmes has a $12 million player option that he would most likely not exercise).

In the bullpen, both Weaver and Raley would be valuable additions as closer-capable reinforcement. Weaver is under contract through next season and Raley will be free agency-eligible at the end of this year.

Padres offering up Mason Miller?

All four Mets would be intriguing acquisitions, but arguably not as intriguing as San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, who is reportedly being dangled as red-meat trade bait by a Padres team in the doldrums.

Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale:

“The San Diego Padres looked like they could be a formidable threat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and now after the past month are talking about unloading All-Star closer Mason Miller and putting their high-priced stars on the market ….

One year, they’re trading away perhaps the finest prospect in baseball, shortstop Leo De Vries, for Athletics All-Star closer Mason Miller.

The next, they’re talking about trading him away.”

Miller to the Cubs is a real stretch, of course.

The Padres will be asking a fortune for the hard-throwing right-hander and the Cubs, even if they were inclined to trade away a collection of quality prospects for a closer, may not even have the high-end prospects to move the Padres front office.

Still, this certainly makes for some interesting debate. It could also move a trade deadline competitor or two towards the Padres and away from teams like the Mets, who offer more realistic trade options for the Cubs.

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The Chicago Cubs are staring down a tough situation. They may have to trade away a good chunk of their young talent in a bid to add some much-needed pitching by the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

More News: Chicago Cubs trade deadline aggression may hinge on one key factor

The team needs at least one sturdy, steady starting pitcher—but ideally two—to make up for the injuries that have put Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton on the shelf. They also need some reinforcement in the bullpen as closer Daniel Palencia remains on the IL, along with crucial setup men Hoby Milner and Hunter Harvey, among others.

The Cubs front office, if they’re serious about doing something in the postseason this year, may have no choice but to make some uncomfortable prospect trade decisions.

Pedro Ramirez, ideal trade bait?

More News: The Chicago Cubs have succeeded in spite of everything

High on the list of Chicago’s most coveted prospects is infielder Pedro Ramirez. As a matter of fact, some feel that the 22-year-old switch-hitter is the top trade bait in their entire organization.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN mentions Ramirez as an ideal candidate to be dealt for pitching:

“Like seemingly every contender, an impact starter and reliever could make the difference for the Cubs. Infielder Pedro Ramirez is a natural fit for a trade as he’s blocked in the infield. Chicago has major league talent available to move.”

Ramirez is an attractive trade piece for several reasons. Many believe that he’s already major league-ready and could contribute to a big league squad immediately. His ability to play multiple positions—second base, third base, and now some corner outfield—gives him added value. He’s also regarded as a player with maturity beyond his years and a high baseball IQ.

Currently, he’s hitting .246 with one home run and seven RBIs in very limited play with the major league Cubs. At Triple-A Iowa, he hit .312 with 9 home runs and 40 RBIs in 43 games while dazzling with the glove.

Turning heads, but stuck behind veterans

The young talent turned heads with his performance in spring training, winning over veterans and impressing coaches. As a matter of fact, manager Craig Counsell flat-out said that he would’ve been just fine with Ramirez being brought up to the bigs right from Opening Day.

“I wouldn’t have hesitated out of spring training. We told him that,” Counsell said.

“He had a wonderful spring. He was the player that the other players talked about. There’s always that guy in spring training.”

“He’s a big-leaguer,” Counsell added. “He’s going to be a good big-leaguer. He’s got a really good head on his shoulders, really good baseball intelligence. It’s great to see him off to a good start and really taking another step.”

The problem is that the Cubs already have Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman under long-term contracts at second and third. They also have 2023 no. 1 draft pick Matt Shaw playing the super sub role off the bench, essentially doing what Ramirez would be tasked with doing on this team.

So, it would certainly make sense to move Ramirez at the trade deadline, if they don’t end up moving Shaw.

Things should get interesting as August 3 approaches.

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The Chicago Cubs are set to begin the second half of the season five games behind the first place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division and a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the top NL Wild Card spot.

More News: The Chicago Cubs have succeeded in spite of everything

That’s not a bad place to be for a team withstanding an unprecedented wave of injuries that has decimated both the starting rotation and bullpen.

For many, the August 3 MLB trade deadline represents a “the cavalry is coming” target date for the team, as they could reinforce a battered and strained staff—currently ranked 21st in team ERA—with some much-needed pitching pickups.

But there’s no guarantee on how many impact arms will actually be available at the deadline in what looks to be a tight pennant race. More importantly, there’s no guarantee on how aggressive the Cubs will actually be as the deadline approaches.

Questions regarding Cubs deadline aggression

More News: Former Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein talks importance of trade deadline impact

According to many media analysts—based off the words of Cubs president Jed Hoyer himself—the team’s level of deadline aggression will depend heavily on how well the team does in the next 2 ½ weeks as they target an important bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:

“The Chicago Cubs are 21st [in team ERA], and remain in dire need of pitching help in all forms. Some might come from the injured list (righty starters Jameson Taillon and Edward Cabrera, closer Daniel Palencia, righty reliever Phil Maton). Some almost certainly will need to come from trades, and lefty David Peterson was a start.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer perhaps tipped his hand last month on how aggressively he might act at the deadline, saying a first-round bye was critical to a team’s odds of winning the World Series. The Cubs are five games back for the second NL bye, currently held by their division rival, the Brewers. They need to narrow that gap in the next 2 1/2 weeks.”

A crucial stretch is upcoming

And, yeah, Hoyer has also directly said that how well the team does in this next stretch will determine his trade deadline moves.

“It has been a really up-and-down season,” Hoyer told The Athletic earlier this month. “There’s no reason to think that’s the way the rest of the season is going to go. It could go that way, or we could just proceed to level things out, and I hope we do. But, yeah, this is a really important stretch. The market will dictate a lot of those things. But, of course, our play is going to dictate a level of aggressiveness.”

“You have to look at how your team is playing,” Hoyer added, “how you are relative to .500. How are your underlying numbers? How is your health? You have to understand your own team.”

In other words, Chicago won’t be spending the trade capital needed to bring in top-tier pitching at the deadline unless Hoyer and company feel that the team has an edge coming into the postseason.

This mindset may leave Cubs fans once again disappointed, as they were last season, in the team’s trade deadline haul in support of a squad that has shown itself to have the spark of being something special.

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Last off-season, the Chicago Cubs saw a few members of their elite bullpen depart in free agency, while initially bringing back only Caleb Thielbar on a one year, $4.0 million deal. Meanwhile, Drew Pomeranz, who is now back in the organization, originally signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels whereas Brad Keller got a massive two year, $22.0 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

For Keller, he capitalized on this large deal by breaking out with Chicago in 2025. He went from an unexpected roster addition to a high-leverage arm, where over 68 outings he recorded 25 holds, three saves, and a 2.07 ERA. This was a drastic improvement compared to his career numbers, which consisted of an ERA over 4.00 at that time.

Unfortunately, his time in Philadelphia may already be over after just 32 games and 31.1 innings pitched as he has suffered a UCL tear. Keller is getting a second opinion on the matter, but if he undergoes surgery he will miss the remainder of this season and potentially all of the 2027 season.

The Chicago Cubs dodged a $22 million bullet by not re-signing Brad Keller

While the Cubs did make a notable addition to their bullpen last offseason by signing Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million contract, they were ultimately wise not to match the Phillies’ commitment to Keller. Philadelphia remains on the hook for the $22 million guaranteed in his deal, regardless of whether he throws another pitch for their organization.

Instead, Chicago allocated its resources more efficiently, such as signing Hoby Milner and Jacob Webb while taking fliers on guys like Trent Thorton, who is now pitching in the big leagues after originally signing a minor league deal with the club. That is all to say that in hindsight, passing on Keller looks like one of the smarter decisions the organization made last offseason.

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The Chicago Cubs are 54-42 on the season as the second half is about to begin. Indeed, the first half of the season saw Chicago go through quite the roller coaster. From a strong start and two different 10-game winning streaks to a 10-game losing streak and a month without a series win, the Cubs have been all over the place in 2026.

It is no coincidence, too, that their ebbs and flows have come as their pitching staff has had to overcome injury after injury after injury. Multiple Cubs starters are out for the year, and even more have done more than one stint on the injured list already. Their bullpen has not been much healthier.

If Chicago is going to keep pace in the division, they need pitching.

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Aaron Civale is available again

Earlier today, it was reported that former Cubs pitcher Aaron Civale has been designated for assignment by the Athletics:

Athletics To Designate Aaron Civale For Assignment https://t.co/7jn3lZduUq pic.twitter.com/JApZJXLOUV

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 16, 2026

So far in 2026, Civale has appeared in 16 games (15 starts) and is 5-7 with a 5.42 ERA.

Obviously, these numbers are not great, and they would not necessarily give any Cubs fan confidence that adding him would do much good for the team.

It is worth considering, though, that Civale was in a similar circumstance last year, and Chicago was able to take advantage of it.

The long-time veteran started the year with Milwaukee Brewers in 2025. After being told they were going to move him to the bullpen ahead of promoting Jacob Misiorowski, Civale demanded a trade. As a result, the Brewers sent him to the Chicago White Sox for Andrew Vaughn.

At the time of the trade, Civale was 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA. After the trade, he was downright awful for the White Sox, going 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA.

When the South Side team designated for assignment late in the year, the Cubs added him. Instead of inserting him into their starting rotation, they brought him out of the bullpen. He was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five appearances with the North Side team.

At this point, the Cubs need healthy arms in both the starting rotation and bullpen. Civale can do both. His numbers as a starter have not been great, but perhaps the chance to pitch for a contender, even out of the bullpen, would appeal to him.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs urged to avoid this tempting trade target
• Pete Crow-Armstrong talks plan to dethrone Shohei Ohtani as MVP
• Cubs insider apologizes to executives, per report

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs have taken blow after blow this season. They’ve taken so many gut punches that nobody would’ve blamed them if they just tossed in the towel on an ill-fated 2026 in hopes of a better 2027.

More News: Former Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein talks importance of trade deadline impact

It’s hard to imagine a bigger blow than losing four starters from your rotation, your closer, and a handful of relievers from your bullpen. That’s what the Cubs have suffered through in this first half of 2026.

Yet, the team is headed into the other side of the All-Star break twelve games above .500 and in the top NL Wild Card spot.

Seriously—given all the losses and the fact that the pitching staff is currently manned by emergency fill-ins and castoffs from other teams—this shouldn’t be happening.

Winning against the odds

More News: Chicago Cubs urged to avoid this temping trade target

Aldo Soto, blogger at Sports Mockery, recently pointed this out in a Tweet which sums things up pretty nicely:

The Cubs at the All-Star break:
23rd in rotation ERA
16th in bullpen ERA
6th fewest quality starts
4th most blown saves

Meanwhile, over 35 games, they had baseball’s 3rd-worst offense.

And yet they have the 5th best record in MLB.”

Throwing in the fact that even the offense has been spotty and inconsistent is important.

All of this begs the question of how Chicago is doing this.

To be honest, the biggest factor motoring this Cubs team seems to be gumption and true grit. To the credit of Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, this team has been put together with character in mind—and it shows.

True Grit

“I’m proud of how hard it was for us and how much adversity was thrown our way,” Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong told reporters prior to the All-Star break. “For how beat up we were, for how many guys have cycled through here…this was a friggin’ team effort, this first half.”

This truly has been a no-quit squad, as their 10 walk-off wins this season proves. But even earlier in the year, Chicago’s moxie was plainly evident.

“I never saw our guys waver or falter today,” pitcher Jameson Taillon told media after a crazy come-from-behind victory back in April. “It would have been easy going down 5-0 and just kind of be like ‘welp, let’s go on the road we got swept’, it was just a really cool vibe and energy today where I thought everyone was picking each other up, guys passing the baton to each other as the game went.”

Under manager Craig Counsell, the team has adopted a next-man-up mindset in dealing with setbacks and injuries. When one Cub falls, another one steps up to fill the gap. And they’ve been doing this all year.

There’s also an elite defense helping the team along, of course, and enough offense to always be dangerous. Plus, Crow-Armstrong has beeen almost obscene in his greatness, especially the last two months or so.

But resiliency is the defining characteristic of this team.

Hopefully, the front office can add some pitching depth by the August 3 trade deadline to provide some support for the push to the postseason.

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The Chicago Cubs have worked through every hurdle and gut check thrown their way and have still managed to emerge from the All-Star break as a playoff-level team, currently in the top NL Wild Card spot and twelve games over .500.

More News: Chicago Cubs urged to avoid this temping trade target

But, realistically, the patchwork pitching staff the team is currently fielding won’t get them very far into the postseason, if it doesn’t completely collapse on them before even getting there.

Injuries have decimated both the starting rotation and the bullpen and, other than the hope of a healthy return for a couple of arms, there’s no cavalry riding in to save Cubs pitching.

So, this season, the August 3 MLB trade deadline has taken on an exaggerated level of importance.

By consensus opinion, Chicago needs to walk away from the deadline with, at least, a front-of-rotation starter, a rotation-capable swingman, and at least a couple of dependable relievers.

Last season, in a similar pitching-minded spot, Cubs president Jed Hoyer and the front office failed to bring in an impact arm at the deadline. The end result saw a gritty, tough Cubs team battle its way to the second round of the playoffs before collapsing, in great part, due to a pitching deficiency.

Some critics are already anticipating a Cubs letdown at the deadline and voicing their concern over letting another special season go to waste by an unwillingness to pull the trigger on a big trade. They argue about just how much an impact acquisition would not only fill in a gaping roster hole, but also energize the team to keep pushing forward.

Theo Epstein on the importance of a trade deadline impact

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA talks up his plan to dethrone Ohtani as MVP

In a recent appearance on The Lovable Reunion podcast with David Ross and Anthony Rizzo, former Cubs president talked about the steep price he paid to acquire Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline in 2016 and how, ultimately, it helped propel the team to its first World Series win in 108 years.

“From the outside looking in, or if you take just a purely analytical look at baseball, you don’t understand the impact that it has in the clubhouse,” Epstein recalled. “These guys have done all their offseason work, grinded all of spring training, put the nuts on the line the whole season. And then they look at the front office like, ‘You guys have one f***ing job! Get us what we need.’

“I’ve been through years where you just can’t get it. Because you’re asking to be paid like five times the prices. You just can’t do it, and you feel like you just let everybody down. So take it very personally as an organization: We need to deliver.

“We’re not going to always mortgage the future, but we have to do our job and give these guys what they need, because it gives you that boost of energy. And then you feel connected, like, ‘Hey, they have our back. All the sacrifice was worth it.’ It has an amplifying effect.

“That was a deal that — I would have mocked it if someone else did it.”

“No one’s gonna beat us!”

Obviously, the trade paid off. It fueled an already highly-motivated team to push even harder for a championship.

Rizzo, in an appearance on the Glory Daze Podcast last year, affirmed what Epstein felt to be true about the jolt such a move gives to a team—and, conversely, how much of a buzzkill it is when the team fails to make that big trade.

“We were in 2016 and we were the best team and then we go out and get the best closer, Aroldis Chapman. And we’re just like, ‘Holy sh*t, no one’s gonna beat us,’” Rizzo said.

“And then there’s years where we’re in that same position and they don’t give us that boost…In the clubhouse, you’re like ‘What are we doing?’ And it’s no disrespect to the guys they bring in…There have been years where there are guys out there that we know we can go get that the front offices don’t align or what not. But when you get that big piece it’s [a huge shot in the arm].”

Time will tell how this year’s trade deadline plays out.

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In the mid-2010’s and early 2020’s, Kyle Schwarber was among the most popular Chicago Cubs players. He was, and still is, a three outcome hitter. For the most part, he either walks, strikes out, or hits a towering home run. In six seasons with the Cubs (during which he was healthy for five of those years), he mashed 121 home runs.

In five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Schwarber has hit 219 home runs. Last year, he led the National League with 56 bombs, and this season leads all of baseball with 32. He also struck out 197 times last year and this season leads the Majors with 144 punch outs.

It is still early, but Chicago may have gotten a player who can be what Schwarber was for the Cubs and still is for the Phillies in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Chicago Cubs second round pick Myles Bailey could be the next Kyle Shwarber

Currently, the Cubs have plenty of young stars that bring a great deal of excitement to the lineup. That being said, Myles Bailey, their second round pick, has been projected by ESPN to be a lot like Schwarber:

“Myles Bailey (second round) is a pretty easy prospect to understand, even though he missed much of this season because of shoulder surgery: plus-plus raw power, lots of homers, and an uphill swing that helps create a ton of swing and miss. He’s a solid first-base defender and has plus pitch selection, so this could work, but it’ll come with lots of deep counts and true three outcomes.”

As one can see, Schwarber is not mentioned by name, but the profile is very similar. He strikeouts out and walks a great deal, but also hits a ton of home runs.

The key, though, is going to be health. Bailey should be able to overcome the shoulder injury that shortened his season, and if he does, Chicago will have an exciting power hitter on their hands.

In 26 games at Florida State this year, Bailey hit .363/.582/.913 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI. He walked 35 times and struck out 30 times.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs urged to avoid this tempting trade target
• Pete Crow-Armstrong talks plan to dethrone Shohei Ohtani as MVP
• Cubs insider apologizes to executives, per report

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 54-42 as they prepare to start the second half of the 2026 MLB season. This past week, they have enjoyed a few days off for the All-Star break, which also came at the tail end of the amateur draft. Now with a new crop of prospects, Chicago not only is looking ahead to the immediate future and a push for the postseason, but also competing for playoff spots in the years to come.

Indeed, the Cubs have a promising farm system already, and it just got even better with the new crop of prospects that they added in the draft.

Of course, fans will now be anxiously awaiting to see which prospects will rise through the minors the fastest, and ESPN believes they know which one will.

ESPN believes Chicago Cubs first round pick Cade Townsend will reach the Majors the fastest

In their recap and analysis of each team’s draft haul, ESPN identified which prospect they believe will reach the Majors first in Chicago. Perhaps not surprisingly, they identified first round pick Cade Townsend:

“RHP Cade Townsend (first round) has a very clean and pretty pitch movement plot with six pitches spaced out well and all of them with above-average velocity.

“He performed well as a starter in the SEC and the main concerns are his higher release (which makes his fastball shape just OK, and creates a reliance on breaking pitches), the durability questions created by his size (6-foot-1) and his fastball command needing to get one notch better.

“Those are pretty typical prospect questions and that adds up to a solid first-rounder when the upside is a No. 2/No. 3 starter.”

Obviously, the Cubs need starting pitching help now too. But on the bright side, at least they now have another front of the rotation prospect in their system. If he lives up to the hype, it should not be long before he another Cade (Horton) are both headlining Chicago’s starting rotation.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs urged to avoid this tempting trade target
• Pete Crow-Armstrong talks plan to dethrone Shohei Ohtani as MVP
• Cubs insider apologizes to executives, per report

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs will resume their season this Friday, coming out of the All-Star break with the top spot in the NL Wild Card race and a good amount of momentum.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA talks up his plan to dethrone Ohtani as MVP

They will also be coming back with some glaring holes in their roster and some well-defined needs.

Chief among those needs is starting pitching. The team has lost Cade Horton for the season following Tommy John surgery earlier this year. They can also cross off ace Justin Steele, who suffered a setback in his own recovery from elbow surgery last year. Ben Brown, who was having a breakthrough year, has also been sidelined indefinitely with a recurring neck problem. Meanwhile, new Cub starter Edward Cabrera is currently on the IL with a hamstring injury as Jameson Taillon gets ready to join the team after his own stint on the IL.

Given all the injuries and misfortune, the Cubs front office needs to target starting pitching prior to the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

With a need for a front-of-rotation starter and a desire to target young pitchers with years of team control ahead, there has been a short list of “best fit” pitchers suggested for the team.

Cubs warned to stay away from this pitcher

More News: Chicago Cubs insider Tweet to coach stirs concerns and controversy

One of those on the short list is the Angels’ Jose Soriana, whose 3.49 ERA and two years of team control remaining after this season make him a tantalizing trade target.

Ryan O’Rourke of Cubbies Crib, however, is warning the Cubs that they may want to stay far away from the 27-year-old righty.

Per O’Rourke:

“…The warning signs have shone bright beneath his sparkling 3.49 ERA. After giving up just one run in his first 37 2/3 innings, the wheels have come off the bus. To illustrate the drop-off, starting from his match-up against the White Sox at the end of April, his first start giving up more than one run, he’s had the fifth-worst ERA among qualified pitchers at 5.15 with an also quite bad 4.89 FIP.

A constant problem in Soriano’s career has been his walk rate and overall command, and that remains true in 2026, as he’s issuing free passes to 11.4% of batters he’s faced. Only 43.6% of his pitches are ending up in the strike zone, putting him comfortably below league average when it comes to getting the ball over the plate. Home runs have also increasingly plagued him, as he’s coughed up 11 from that game with the White Sox on.”

More work-in-progress than impact arm?

O’Rourke does go on to point out that Soriano’s 53.1% groundball rate and his high-90s velocity might make him an intriguing pickup, even with his propensity for walking batters and giving up the long ball.

Soriano put up some dominant numbers in his first six starts of the season, but has hobbled his way through the last 14. This suggests that the rotation piece is still very much a work in progress. He’s not, however, a pitcher who will help carry this Cubs team to the playoffs and deep into the postseason.

Given his age and the years of team control—plus the demand for starting pitching at the deadline—the Angels will also likely be asking a hefty price for the four-year major leaguer.

Maybe Soriano would fly as an offseason acquisition, as someone the Cubs pitching brain trust can work with and help further develop. But he’s not the guy the team needs on August 3.

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The Chicago Cubs will be returning from the All-Star break with the top National League Wild Card spot and a second place standing in the NL Central Division.

More News: Chicago Cubs insider Tweet to coach stirs concerns and controversy

It’s really been a remarkable season, all things considered. A massive and unprecedented wave of injury to key figures on the pitching staff could’ve easily knocked the wheels off the Cubs’ cart, but the team has, so far, persevered.

A big part of Chicago’s ability to ride out the wave of misfortune is their offense and stellar defense. Chief among the position player assets this year is center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has put together a wild run of dominance—specifically from the end of May to the break—that has him, literally, putting up stats that rival legends such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

PCA’s wild run

More News: Chicago Cubs: 3 (not so obvious) Cubs to watch after the All-Star break

Since May 30, PCA is hitting .385 with an unreal on base percentage of .474. Overall this season, he’s slashing .291/.386/.531 with an OPS of .917. He’s also notched 21 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases.

Combine that with his elite defense in the outfield, and you have an asset with a 6.0 WAR, according to FanGraphs—tops among dedicated position players. This screams “MVP”—even in a baseball world that has Shohei Ohtani in it.

The move to overtake Ohtani?

On Tuesday in Philadelphia, prior to his second All-Star game appearance, the 24-year-old joked about what it might take to replace the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar as the MVP guy. Ohtani, who missed the All-Star game due to some lingering knee issues, has won MVP recognition three years in a row and four times over the course of his nine-year career. He’s on track to win yet another award this year.

“I was telling a few of the guys earlier, ‘Man, I would love to dethrone him,’ but I don’t know how you do it unless I go to a pitching lab in the offseason,” Crow-Armstrong told media. “I’ll go be a closer or something and see how that helps my odds.”

The 32-year-old Ohtani currently leads all of baseball with a 6.3 WAR, also according to FanGraphs, but he also pulls double duty as a designated hitter and starting pitcher, with his mound work noting for 3 points of his total WAR.

But does PCA stack up against the great Ohtani?

Offensively, yes. The two stars’ numbers are similar. Ohtani has a slash line of .293/.403/.549 and an OPS of .953 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs. When one factors in Crow-Armstrong’s speed and base stealing prowess, the two are pretty much even when it comes to impact as a position player.

Ohtani’s pitching, though, is what sets him apart, as Crow-Armstrong, who went 1-for-1 in Tuesday’s game, joked about in his remarks.

But there’s a serious debate to be had on whether an elite-level defender playing every day brings as much value to a team’s competitive bottom line as an elite pitcher working every fifth game.

Realistically, though, it’s a long shot that anyone other than Ohtani will win the NL MVP award this season—and, arguably, for the next couple. But if anyone might be able to do it, it’s the still-learning and still-growing Crow-Armstrong, even if he doesn’t become the Cubs’ shutdown closer.

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A Chicago Sun-Times report by Jeff Agrest says that Marquee and The Score insider Bruce Levine has apologized to Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins after an odd incident on Twitter (X) Monday night. The incident involved Levine accidentally posting publicly on Twitter (X) what was supposed to be a private message to a Cubs coach. Levine’s message involved referring to Hoyer and Hawkins as “Twinkle Dee” and “Twinkle Dum” (meaning “Tweedle Dee” and “Tweedle Dum”).

The post was up for a while before the mistake was realized, and the post was taken down.

Per the Agrest report, Hoyer and Hawkins accepted the apology and are moving on. While nothing seems to be coming of this, fans still wonder what the future will be like regarding the team and the executive’s relationship with Levine.

Chicago Cubs brass is “moving on”

Levine apologized quickly to them, seeing as the report came out less than 24 hours after the post appeared on Twitter (X). He’s one of the primary Cubs beats and is front and center during most media sessions with the team. This had to be dealt with quickly.

It has to be hard for Hoyer and Hawkins to think about one of the veteran reporters who has done his job diligently for a long time, saying those kinds of things about them to Cubs personnel. What other conversations have been had between him and members of the organization about them? In the end, it will never be known to the public.

Fans might be frustrated at times with Hoyer and Hawkins on certain things. One might not be sympathetic towards them, but regardless, it’s still crazy to think about this whole thing. All members involved are established professionals, and they seem to be handling it as well as they should be.

When it’s all said and done, this could be a story that just blows away quickly. At least that is the hope.

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The Chicago Cubs need to be aggressive buyers at this year’s August 3 MLB trade deadline. There’s just no other realistic way the team does anything in the postseason without filling the massive holes they have in an injury-ravaged starting rotation and bullpen.

More News: Chicago Cubs: 3 (not so obvious) Cubs to watch after the All-Star break

They also needed to be aggressive buyers at last season’s trade deadline.

Instead of the frontline starter they needed, though, they would end up with Michael Soroka (who got injured in his first outing with the Cubs), Andrew Kittredge, Taylor Rogers, and Willi Castro.

And, subsequently, they would be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, in great part due to their dearth of high-leverage starting pitching.

This year, the fear is that the Cubs front office will again fiddle around the edges of the strike zone rather than throw a heater right down the middle by going after fringe arms over more costly impact pitchers at the deadline.

MLB insider and Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine, apparently, shares those concerns.

Insider Tweet stirs controversy

More News: Chicago Cubs: Huge gamble explored in proposed Cubs-Mariners trade

Monday night, the veteran scribe apparently sent out a Tweet that was intended to be a private message to an unnamed Cubs coach, clearly referring to Cubs president Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins as “twinkle dee” and “twinkle dum:”

“You and the other coaches have been the stars of the team being 12 games over 500. Let’s hope twinkle dee and twinkle dum don’t sell you guys out like the 2025. Enjoy the family time pal.”

Levine later deleted the post, but as we all know, someone is always saving receipts on social media.

One question left behind from this mishap centers around who Levine was talking to. Some have theorized that it was Craig Counsell, himself. Nobody outside of Levine and his contact will ever know for certain.

Whatever the case, Levine seemed to be supremely confident in dissing Hoyer and Hawkins to this person, almost as if the derision was a regular part of their dialogue. That could make for issues inside the Cubs bubble.

The road to disappointment?

The biggest question is whether Levine, who has access to info not known to the general public, actually has reason to believe that the Cubs front office will again disappoint at the trade deadline.

Last season, the post-deadline criticism was brutal. This season, in the face of such dire pitching need, it would probably be even more savage.

Hawkins’ post-deadline comments last year on having the discipline to refrain from making a major trade and his responsibility to the 2032 Cubs went over like a lead balloon with angry Cubs fans who were sensing something special in that 2025 squad.

The media was also absolutely brutal to the front office.

“I thought today, for the Chicago Cubs, was a disaster…an absolute disaster,” analyst David Kaplan commented on his Rekap podcast immediately after the deadline came and went last year. “I cannot be more disappointed that a team that has the second best record in the National League, a team that is one game out of the division lead…did not look and go ‘Wow, we get in, anything can happen. Let’s get this group a real chance in October.”

“To not get a frontline starter here and, to be honest, to not even get a legitimate back-end reliever,” Sam Olbur of the Locked on Cubs podcast exclaimed at the time. “I mean, this is one word and one word only—unserious.”

Fans are hoping that Levine’s Tweet wasn’t a slip that history may be repeating itself.

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The Chicago Cubs made it to the All-Star break without the wheels falling off their banged-up, wobbly wagon. They’re holding on to the top NL Wild Card spot and a second place standing behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Huge gamble explored in proposed Cubs-Mariners trade

And they did this under extreme stress and strain after suffering through an unprecedented wave of injuries. In total, thirteen pitchers have fallen to injury since spring training—including four starting pitchers projected to be on the major league roster, their closer, and a handful of high-profile relievers.

Now, however, comes the really tough part of the season.

As the race to the postseason heats up, everything gets tighter for the top-tier teams and, under the pressure, a team’s weaknesses become amplified. The Cubs have several holes to patch up and not much time in which to do it. They will also need to lean on several key players to help them over the hump. The stars, like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner, will garner the most attention, of course. But some Cubs, just below that level, will also need to play major roles.

Here are three not-so-obvious players Cubs fans should watch for their post-All-Star break contributions.

Jameson Taillon

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insane Pete Crow-Armstrong stats are making history

Even when not pitching superbly, the 34-year-old veteran has been a valuable asset during his time in Chicago. He’s consistently delivered innings and has kept the team close in games even when he doesn’t have his best stuff.

With the Cubs starting rotation battered and strained to the point of breaking, Taillon’s steady presence has never been needed more.

He’s due back from the IL after the All-Star break and Chicago desperately needs him to bring some stability to the rotation amid the injury-fueled disorder. He’ll also have to improve on his 5.19 ERA, but at this point, the Cubs may be fine settling for just six non-catastrophic innings every fifth game.

Jacob Webb

The Cubs didn’t acquire the veteran free agent righty this past offseason as a high-leverage shutdown closer. They envisioned more of a solid middle-relief arm who was almost dull in his consistency and dependability.

Over his previous six years in the majors—spent with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Rangers—that’s exactly who he was. He didn’t blow anyone away with his power, but he regularly delivered an ERA in the 3s over 53 to 66 innings.

This season, though, necessity has forced Webb into a de facto closer role, already logging 41.1 innings and posting a career-high 5 saves.

With the wave of injuries washing over the staff, Webb has become the most reliable veteran presence in the bullpen—and he’ll need to keep that up as Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner, among others, get their feet back under them.

Matt Shaw

The 24-year-old Shaw could play an important role on a postseason-bound Cubs team as a key bench player. His ability to play all around the field, pinch hit, and provide speed off the bench is something the 2025 Cubs lacked as they moved into the playoffs.

But the 2023 first round draft pick’s biggest contribution to an ambitious Cubs team may be as trade bait.

Already a young, major league-ready player, Shaw could immediately be plugged into the starting lineup of any rebuilding (or semi-rebuilding) team at third base, second base, or in a corner outfield position. He’ll likely be Chicago’s most coveted asset come trade deadline—and the one demanding the highest return. If the Cubs land a front-of-rotation pitcher, Shaw would likely be part of that deal.

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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is the heavy favorite for the National League MVP once again. That’s not a debate — it’s the gravitational reality of the sport. When Ohtani is healthy, he occupies the top of the ballot by default. Everyone else is fighting for oxygen.

But this season has introduced a wrinkle: Ohtani’s recent injury, the one significant enough to force him out of the upcoming All‑Star Game. Any time the sport’s most dominant player misses a marquee event, the conversation shifts. One must wonder whether the door is cracking open. Voters wonder whether durability should matter. And every other MVP candidate wonders whether this is their moment to make noise.

Still, even with the injury, Ohtani remains the favorite. His production, both as a hitter and as a pitcher, is so overwhelming that it doesn’t erase his lead. What it does do is create space — narrative space, emotional space, voter‑fatigue space — for someone else to step forward.

That’s where Pete Crow‑Armstrong enters the frame.

No one really expects to beat out Ohtani. But he is supposed to make voters think. And that alone puts him in rare company.

The Second‑half test: Last Year’s fade still lingers

Many fans will remember that PCA had an awesome first half last season. He looked like a breakout star, a future cornerstone, a player who could carry the Cubs into a new era.

Then the second half happened.

The numbers dipped. The consistency wavered. The maturity slipped. The emotional outbursts — the helmet tosses, the bat throws, the visible frustration — became part of the conversation.

And that’s the shadow hanging over his MVP candidacy now.

If PCA wants to be more than a fun first‑half story, he has to prove he can sustain it. He has to show he can handle the noise, the pressure, the expectations, and the inevitable slump that hits every baseball player throughout the season.

This award isn’t just about talent. It’s about endurance.

He also must deal with the noise from the media, who will be asking a lot of questions about him versus Ohtani, and create a narrative to make the race look interesting for the rest of the season. Yes, PCA’s talent and style of play are tailor‑made for narrative momentum. But if PCA fades again, the conversation ends. If he matures, stabilizes, and keeps producing, the door opens.

PCA’s MVP chances are real. But the second half will test his maturity, his consistency, and his ability to carry the Cubs without losing himself. If he passes that test, he becomes the rare player who can challenge Ohtani’s gravitational pull rather than just counting on voter fatigue. 

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The Chicago Cubs have been hit with the injury big through the first half of the 2026 MLB season. As we sit here at the MLB All-Star break, Chicago has 13 pitchers on the injured list this season. That’s enough for a full rotation and a bullpen.

The injuries have ranged from season-ending to a short IL stint but either way, it’s not been good.

Chicago currently sits five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and will need to make a push in the second half. Getting guys healthy and figuring out the pitching will be the biggest keys. Those go hand in hand as well. But as we sit here at the All-Star break, Craig Counsell had some good news regarding one injured pitcher.

Craig Counsell believes Ben Brown will return for Chicago Cubs

One of the pitchers on the injured list is Ben Brown. He went down with a stress reaction/fracture in the neck on June 25th, right after enjoying a bit of a breakout season. However, Counsell believes Brown will return this season but there’s a small catch.

He doesn’t know if it will be in the rotation or as a reliever as he told the Chicago Sun-Times:

‘Will right-hander Ben Brown pitch again this season?

That question earned an easy “yes” from manager Craig Counsell on Sunday.

Whether that means Brown, on the IL while recovering from a stress fracture in a vertebrae in his neck, will have enough time to build back up and slot back into the rotation, however, remains unknown.

“I don’t know if we have clarity on that yet,” Counsell said.’

Counsell mentions an “easy” yes, which is great news. The Cubs could really use Brown in any spot over the final 60 or so games of the season, especially if they are making a push to the playoffs.

In eight games this season, Brown was 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 68 innings pitched. He became a weapon for the Cubs in that rotation and now, Counsell could have the option of him in the bullpen. For now, the first step is getting Brown healthy and then taking it from there.

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The Chicago Cubs need pitching. They DESPERATELY need pitching.

They’ve done remarkably well so far this season, dealing with a staff decimated by injuries. It’s frankly amazing that they’ve managed to remain a playoff-favored team currently missing four starting rotation pitchers (Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Ben Brown), their closer (Daniel Palencia) and a handful of top relievers. Even rehabbing ace Justin Steele, who was due back by mid-season from last year’s elbow surgery, has suffered a setback that places the rest of this season in doubt).

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insane Pete Crow-Armstrong stats are making history

Still, the Cubs are twelve games over .500 and owners of the top spot in the NL Wild Card race.

Realistically, though, there’s little chance of the team doing much in the postseason with a pitching staff full of doubts, hobbled assets, and emergency fill-ins. That’s why Cubs president Jed Hoyer and the front office need to be aggressive buyers at the August 3 MLB trade deadline, in the hunt for top-of-rotation starting pitching and reliable bullpen arms.

The problem is that lots of teams are still in contention for playoff spots and the seller list may be pretty small come early August.

Seattle Mariners president Jerry Dipoto recently expressed his belief that the tight market may necessitate some buyer-to-buyer trades between contending teams this deadline.

Cubs-Mariners trade?

More News: Chicago Cubs actually have cause for pitching optimism heading into All-Star break

So, taking this into consideration, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report proposed a deal between the Mariners and the Cubs that could satisfy the hitting-deficient Mariners and the pitching-deficient Cubs.

Per Miller:

“It may have just been an observation on the general state of the league and not necessarily a tell as to what the Mariners are planning to do at the deadline. But this is a buyer-to-buyer deal that figures to benefit both sides.

While the M’s have a stout six-man starting rotation, the Cubs have a surplus of bats and a dearth of starting pitching. And since getting out to a brutal start to the year, Castillo has a 2.72 ERA across his last seven appearances and a 3.83 FIP for the year. He reasonably could become Chicago’s Game 1 starter in the postseason.”

Big gamble

Needless to say, this would be a huge gamble for the Cubs, specifically as Suzuki is a big part of the team’s offense. There would also be the hurdle of Suzuki’s no-trade clause to overcome.

But could this be a gamble worth taking?

The 33-year-old Castillo is not having a great year. He’s currently posting a 3-8 record with a 4.93 ERA through 18 games (15 starts)—although his 4.16 FIP gives some hope that bad luck has played a part in the ugly stat line. His status as the Mariners’ sixth starter in a deep rotation makes him expendable.

On the banged-up Cubs, though, he’d be near the top of the rotation.

He’s also under contract through next season for a bit over $22 million, meaning Chicago could plug him into the rotation next year if/when Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga walk via free agency at the end of this year.

Suzuki, meanwhile, is having a good season. However, he’s due to become a free agent at the end of this season and it’s fairly likely that the Cubs will lose him on the open market.

This Suzuki-for-Castillo trade would be a huge risk for the usually risk-averse Cubs, but it could conceivably be the team’s only shot at grabbing a potential impact starting pitcher by the deadline.

Time will tell what the Cubs plan to do by August 3.

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The 2026 MLB Amateur Draft has arrived as fans look to the future, but first, we look over the past decade and evaluate how the first round has gone for the Chicago Cubs. It’s safe to say that the recent collection of high picks dating back to 2017 has not looked particularly great.

This comes after a seven-year stretch (2011-2015) that saw the Cubs draft Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Ian Happ in the first round.

It’s always important to state the obvious that not every big prospect pans out. No team is going to have a decade of perfection in hitting on their high draft picks. Some players thrive, some play adequately, some get hurt, some get traded, and some don’t pan out for various reasons. Some also bloom later in their professional careers.

Either way, here is a look back at the Cubs first round picks since 2017-2025.

The good.

The hit that clearly stands out is Nico Hoerner. It’s been rough in 2026 so far, but overall, he has been worth a 21.3 bWAR with 825 career hits and is a two-time Gold Glove winner. He was drafted 24th overall in 2018 and made his debut late in 2019 after several injuries forced the Cubs to call him up for need.

Hoerner is one of six Cubs first-rounders since 2000 to eclipse the 20.0 bWAR mark in the Majors. The others include Bryant, Baez, Happ, Schwarber, and Josh Donaldson (who never played in a Cubs uniform).

The not so great.

The turn of the decade has not been kind to the Cubs in the first round. Outside of Hoerner, the Cubs from 2017-2021 drafted Alex Lange (2017, 30th overall), Brendon Little (2017, 27th overall), Ryan Jensen (2019, 27th overall), Ed Howard (2020, 16th overall), and Jordan Wicks (2021, 21st overall). Granted, these picks came off the “Golden Era” of Cubs baseball, so most were late first-rounders, but first-rounders no less.

Lange never pitched for the Cubs; he was traded away as a prospect in 2019 in the Nick Castellanos deal. He’s been decent with the Tigers and Royals, pitching to a 4.08 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.4 WHIP, and 259 strikeouts in 222.2 innings. Castellanos was a baller in 2019, but the Cubs failed to make the postseason. Little pitched 2/3 of an inning as a Cub in 2022, giving up three runs. He’s since been with the Blue Jays and pitched pretty well for them in 2024 and 2025, posting a 3.32 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 1.3 WHIP in 128 appearances.

Jensen and Howard have not seen the Majors. At 28 years old, Jensen is back with the Cubs organization after bouncing between the Mariners (who claimed him from the Cubs in 2023) and Twins organizations. He sports a career 4.66 ERA in the minors. Howard, the local shortstop from Mount Carmel, is only 24, but the bat has not come around. In the minors, he’s hit .213/.270/.287 in 314 games with 11 homers. He’s long fallen off the top prospect rankings.

The jury is out.

Recent high draft picks cannot be ruled as busts or hits yet. Bringing back Wicks into this fold, so far it’s looked like a bust. He’s pitched to a 5.72 ERA, 4.69 FIP, and 1.6 WHIP in 30 MLB appearances so far. He’s also had some injury issues in recent years. It looks bad now, and odds say it will remain that way. There is still a chance he could find some value, though it’s hard to depend on it.

One of the most exciting recent high picks by the Cubs was Cade Horton (2022, 7th overall). He electrified in his rookie season last year in 2025 (2.67 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 97 strikeouts in 118 innings). The elbow injury was devastating this year, and it will be a while before he pitches again. He was looking so promising.

The most recent high pick on the team is Matt Shaw (2023, 13th overall). He’s had his ups and downs so far in the Majors, but he’s only 24. Shaw has a .737 OPS on the season and has shown defensive prowess on the infield, and is getting settled in the outfield. Whether he is trade bait or the future utility man, in a small sample, there is enough to hope that he can be a valuable piece.

Last to note are Cam Smith (2024, 14th overall) and Ethan Conrad (2025, 17th overall). Smith was traded to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal. He’s only 23, but he won’t be a part of the Cubs future. Conrad just arrived at low-A Myrtle Beach and has a ways to go.

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The Chicago Cubs are giving platform to the making of a true superstar in Pete Crow-Armstrong.

While last year’s first-half performance was working at almost a legendary level, the young star’s second half showed some of the mental and technical hiccups that kept him as someone closer to a work in progress than an established elite.

More News: Chicago Cubs actually have cause for pitching optimism heading into All-Star break

This year’s first half, however, is showcasing definite “finished product” vibes. Since May 30, he’s hitting .385 with a crazy on base percentage of .474.

The raw power and stolen base numbers aren’t as high as pre-All-Star break last year, but PCA’s plate discipline and ability to make meaningful contact with hittable pitches is much improved. The end result has been a level of excellence that is actually sustainable and not just the product of an extended hot streak or two.

So far this season, the 24-year-old is slashing .291/.386/.531 and is sporting an OPS of .917, with 21 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. He’s also playing his usual stellar defensive center field. His across the board numbers, per writer and analyst Matt Clapp, make him a FanGraphs Top 3 player in both offense and defense

PCA’s WAR is OMG

More News: Chicago Cubs 2026 draft picks lean on pitching and power

Just as impressive is Crow-Armstrong’s 6.0 WAR according to FanGraphs.

Not only is the Cubs’ only 2026 All-Star Game representative putting up monstrous numbers, he’s also an indispensable asset to his team according this “Wins Above Replacement” metric.

Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation recently put PCA’s WAR into perspective, shining a spotlight on just how special this 2026 run has been (and could further be):

“In the entire history of this franchise, there have been just 55 FULL SEASONS in which a Cubs player has earned at least 6.0 WAR, with only 28 different players accomplishing in a full season what PCA just did in half a year…

Indeed, even if PCA’s second half was as brutally awful/terrible/rotten/no good as 2025 (as in, the same performance from here on out), he’d finish with one of the top-30 seasons in Cubs franchise history by fWAR.

But here’s the thing … I already told you this was more sustainable. So I think there’s reason to believe he could finish with something close to the very best Cubs season ever (for a position player). I don’t think he’ll ultimately top Rogers Hornsby’s 1929 campaign (11.0 WAR), but Sammy Sosa’s 9.9 WAR in 2001 (second highest) certainly feels within reach.”

“Pretty Amazing”

Cubs first baseman Michael Busch echoes Cerami’s assertion that we’re watching something special.

“It puts into perspective what we’re watching,” Busch recently told reporters. “I feel like every time he’s at the plate, he’s getting on first base or hitting a home run or hitting for the cycle.

“You’re talking about every part of his game being at the top, which makes you one of the best players in the game. … It’s super meaningful to this team to have a guy go out there and be one of the best hitters, be one of the best defenders and base runners in the game. It’s all in one person. It’s pretty amazing.”

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The Chicago Cubs are 54-42 on the season as they have reached the MLB All-Star break. This first half has certainly been a roller coaster for Chicago, who ended it on a high note by taking two out of three games against the Cincinnati Reds.

Indeed, the Cubs have been playing excellent baseball as of late, reminiscent of earlier in the season when they won ten games in a row on two separate occasions. It has been a great month for Chicago, who are 20-8 in the last 28 games, a great improvement over a recent stretch that saw them go a full month without winning a single series.

Chicago Cubs take top-5 spot in BR’s MLB power rankings

After weeks of going back-and-forth with other NL Central teams, the Cubs have been able to separate themselves from the pack, so to speak. The Milwaukee Brewers still lead the division, but it once again appears to be a two-team race between them and the Cubs.

When Bleacher Report released their MLB power rankings for the week, they had Chicago ranked fifth, on spot up from last week:

“After starting out 7-9, the Cubs won 20 of their next 23, lost 22 of their next 29 and then closed out the first half with wins in 20 of their last 28 games. Whether they’ll be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde in October remains to be seen. But for all the talk about the need to upgrade this pitching staff at the deadline, it’s probably going to hinge on the offense. The Cubs have won 19 of the last 20 games in which they’ve scored at least five runs, including all four of their victories this week.”

As BR notes, the Cubs’ continued success this season is going to have a great deal to depend on the health of performance of their pitching staff. It will be interesting to see what the team does as the MLB trade deadline approaches, and who they are able to acquire.

Ideally, they would be able to nab at least two front-line starters that stay healthy, as well as a solidly reliable reliever.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Craig Counsell reveals dire injury update on key pitcher
• Why Ethan Conrad’s promotion is key for the Cubs
• Cubs actually have cause for pitching optimism after All-Star break

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs have been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, especially when it comes to their pitching staff. Their starting rotation has been absolutely decimated, and their bullpen has also taken some hits.

Somehow, the Cubs have managed to stay afloat and are firmly in the National League playoff picture, but you do have to wonder just how much longer they will hold up with such uncertainty on the mound.

While Chicago is dealing with injuries to known commodities like Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon, the club also has a sneaky injury in its bullpen: right-hander Hunter Harvey, who has been sidelined with right triceps inflammation since April.

Harvey was expected to be a big piece of the pen this season, with his impressive velocity giving him good strikeout potential. But the Cubs haven’t gotten much of a chance to see him, and manager Craig Counsell provided an update on the situation recently.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound too good.

Chicago Cubs’ Hunter Harvey might not return this season

Counsell revealed that Harvey does not seem close to returning and that “we’re going to have to push through” if the flamethrower is going to pitch again in 2026.

“We haven’t been completely asymptomatic,” Counsell said, via Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. “We know what we’re dealing with, but we’re not sure how it’s going to affect recovery, so we’re just going to have to go.”

Harvey has made four appearances out of the Cubs’ bullpen this season, allowing three runs on five hits while logging four strikeouts over five innings of work. Injuries are nothing new for the 31-year-old, as he missed most of the 2025 campaign with the Kansas City Royals due to a shoulder issue and an abductor injury.

The former first-round pick entered the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 and has registered a lifetime 3.19 ERA and 9.8 K/9 across 186 relief outings. His best year came with the Washington Nationals in 2023, when he posted a 2.82 ERA and 0.940 WHIP while racking up 67 punchouts through 60.2 frames.

If Chicago can get Harvey back at some point this season, it would obviously represent a massive boost for the bullpen, but based on Counsell’s latest assessment of the righty, it doesn’t appear that he is all that optimistic.

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The Chicago Cubs would have every justification for curling up in a ball and bringing out the infamous, but oddly comforting “wait ‘til next year” line.

More News: Chicago Cubs 2026 draft picks lean on pitching and power

They’re currently missing four of the five starters projected to make up their rotation (Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon), plus a fourth starter in Ben Brown, who had surprisingly emerged as the team’s best rotation piece. They’re currently missing closer Daniel Palencia and setup man Hoby Milner, along with several other bullpen arms. Last year’s ace Matthew Boyd and veteran reliever Phil Maton also have a pair of IL stints apiece this season.

The Cubs, though, have fought the downward pull of destiny and have actually kept themselves a playoff-level team despite the pitching injuries and the presence of several emergency fill-in arms throughout the staff.

Cubs reasons for optimism

More News: Chicago Cubs top trade target may be off the table

But there’s actually some reason to feel a bit of optimism as the team heads into the All-Star break.

One reason is Javier Assad, the perpetually overlooked righty who’s been steadily effective throughout his five-year run with the Cubs. On Saturday, the 28-year-old gave the team 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs in his start against the Cincinnati Reds. Since being plugged into the rotation, he’s posted a 2.39 ERA for a team desperate to find starting pitching help.

“It’s been a time of need for us in the rotation. When you have injuries and you bring guys up to add to your rotation, he has more than delivered from that role,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters before Saturday’s game. “That’s been a really positive development in the midst of a lot of injuries.

“He has taken advantage of an opportunity and given us strong innings. Whether it’s been starting or the bullpen, he’s given us very strong innings.”

The Cubs are also waiting on the return of Taillon, who looked good pitching 4.2 scoreless innings in what will be his last minor league rehab outing before rejoining the big league squad after the break.

Meanwhile, the returns of Palencia, Milner, and Cabrera are all slated for sometime in early August.

And, speaking of early August, there’s the August 3 MLB trade deadline, where the Cubs are expected to be aggressive in pursuing pitching reinforcements.

Also, a reality check

So, yeah, there’s reason to feel at least somewhat good about where the Cubs pitching is headed after the break, at least relatively speaking when stacked up against where it was just a week or two ago. The team will still be running at a pitching deficit, though. They’ll still be missing several key components of the staff.

“We’re not going to come back from the break and be finished with the injuries,” Counsell asserted to media on Friday. “We’ve still got injury issues…Every team has some injuries, but to get back to medium strength, we’re still at a pretty big deficit after the break.”

Still, after this run of horrible luck, Cubs fans will take every bright spot they can find.

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The Chicago Cubs came into the opening day of the 2026 Draft with a stated desire to lean into pitching as the organization has come under scrutiny for its lack of homegrown depth in that regard.

Last year’s draft picks Dominick Reid (third round) and Kaleb Wing (fourth round) have accounted well for themselves in the organization, but there’s need for much more. This year, the team drafted three pitchers among their first five picks, including first round selection Cade Townsend.

More News: Chicago Cubs top trade target may be off the table

“We’re really pleased with the outcome,” Cubs vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz told MLB.com. “I think going in, we felt it was going to be slightly skewed towards more pitchers than hitters. I wasn’t sure if that was going to be one hitter or two hitters, but at the end of the day, when a guy like Caden Sorrell falls to us, we weren’t going to miss the opportunity to grab him.

“With getting Cade [Townsend] up top, I think that really solidified our Draft strategy, and then allowed us to be a little bit flexible with two impact bats right after that.”

Here’s a look at who the Cubs selected in the first day of the draft:

Rd: 1, Pick: 23 – Cade Townsend, RHP – Mississippi

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insider names young Cub most likely to be traded at deadline

Cubs fans may flinch over Townsend’s shoulder issues this season at Ole Miss and some have expressed concern over his relatively small frame (6-foot1, 185 lbs.), but Townsend’s got phenomenal stuff and, maybe most importantly, profiles as a mature and fiery pitcher who should jet through the organization and be able to contribute to the major league team sooner rather than later.

Per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com:

“The Cubs are drawn to pitchers who feature plus spin and velocity, and the 21-year-old Townsend (No. 35 on Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list) fits that description. While the right-hander sits around 94-97 mph with his fastball, his speciality is making a baseball dance. Townsend has three plus pitches (slider, cutter and curve), and mixed in a changeup…Townsend is an athletic pitcher with the kind of foundation the Cubs will love to get into their lab and see how they can maximize all that he offers.”

Rd: 2, Pick: 62 – Caden Sorrell, OF – Texas A&M

The 21-year-old has tremendous offensive upside and was considered a bit of a steal at no. 62. He profiles as a corner outfielder who, like previous top prospect Owen Caissie, has a propensity to whiff. Still, Sorrell will be added to the outfield mix as a future replacement for Ian Happ and/or Seiya Suzuki, who are both eligible for free agency at the end of this season.

Per Nick Deeds of Cubbies Crib:

“Sorrell has absolutely torn the cover off the ball in the SEC this year, slashing an utterly absurd .341/.434/.743 with 20 doubles and 23 homers in just 56 games. MLB Pipeline ranked Sorrell as the #33 player in this year’s draft, so landing him at 62nd overall was something of a steal. Sorrell’s claim to fame is his exciting power potential, and it’s surely no coincidence that Chicago deigned to select a player with this profile not long after shipping Owen Caissie to Miami in the Edward Cabrera trade.”

Rd: 2, Pick: 75 – Myles Bailey, 1B – Florida State

Per Danny Barrand, pro evaluator for Prospects Live and contributor to Over-Slot Baseball:

“Florida State 1B Myles Bailey is quite polarizing. He whiffs an unbelievable amount for a notable draft prospect. But he has a 114.3 MPH 90th EV and 23.9° HH LA. May be some of the freakiest power ability on the planet? Hard profile to evaluate, but the homer tape is so fun.”

Rd: 3, Pick: 98 – Carson Jasa, RHP – Nebraska

The 21-year-old Jasa has a crazy curveball that he’s learned to control significantly better than in his ultra-wild freshman year with the Cornhuskers. The feeling is that he may be destined for a closer role as he works his way to the majors, but some weight training and conditioning work on the tall, lanky righty could also see him get in the mix for a starter gig.

Per Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib:

“There are shutdown pitches – and then there’s Carson Jasa’s curveball. The Chicago Cubs selected the big right-hander out of Nebraska…hoping to unlock more on his mid-90s fastball and ride his knee-buckling breaking ball.

Jasa broke out in a big way this year, going 10-2 with 117 strikeouts in just 87 2/3 innings of work, holding opponents to a .210 average. But against his curveball, they went a ridiculous 6-for-111 (.054) – evidence that it is truly an elite put-away pitch. His future, though, will be determined by what the Cubs can help him do with his four-seamer.”

Rd: 4, Pick: 126 – Dylan Marionneaux, RHP – Northwestern State

The biggest unknown of the Cubs’ picks on Saturday, the 21-year-old was targeted after the team met with him personally and saw what he could do, specifically as a high-spin pitcher.

Per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com:

“The Cubs were able to have Marionneaux throw a bullpen during a workout and loved his ability to spin the baseball. The righty showed off a cutter that intrigued Chicago’s pitching group. This past season, Marionneaux had a 3.51 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 18 walks in 84 2/3 innings. The walk rate (1.9 per nine innings) was a noticeable drop from both ’25 (4.5) and ’24 (5.1).”

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Everyone knows that the Chicago Cubs need starting pitching, and they are expected to add at least one more arm before the MLB trade deadline.

The Cubs have already swung a trade to acquire David Peterson from the New York Mets, but that was really just an ancillary move. Larger, more significant trades are expected, especially if Chicago wants to have any chance of making a deep playoff run.

But where will the Cubs turn?

Options are expected to be limited between now and Aug. 3 with so many teams still in postseason contention. For example, many anticipate that the Detroit Tigers will now hold on to impending free agent Tarik Skubal after working their way back into the playoff picture.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic has outlined some potential scenarios for Chicago, and one avenue he mentioned is particularly intriguing.

Chicago Cubs could trade for a young pitcher

The general expectation is that the Cubs will attempt to land an experienced veteran for their rotation, such as Michael Wacha. But Mooney actually thinks Chicago could go in a different direction and bring in some young talent instead.

“The Cubs could trade for a young pitcher and develop new opportunities, depending on the circumstances, the way Ben Brown excelled as a high-leverage reliever and a top-line starter before his recent neck injury,” Mooney wrote. “The club might make multiple moves for pitching, increasing overall depth, limiting exposure in different areas and creating advantages with particular matchups.”

Essentially, Chicago would be trading for young, cost-controlled talent that it can grow with moving forward while also helping the team in the present.

Of course, finding such pitchers midseason will be a trying task. Most ballclubs, contending or not, are typically not prepared to surrender young pitching under team control for the foreseeable future. If the Cubs do pursue such a route, they may have to be prepared to pay up.

There may be some scenarios where Chicago could pluck a struggling young pitcher from another club to see if it can make it work with him in the Windy City. Or, the Cubs could try and find a team with a pitching surplus that is in need of bats and then move one of their many young hitters in exchange for a hurler.

We’ll see what Chicago does in the coming weeks.

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The Chicago Cubs fell to the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Friday night. While starting pitcher Shota Imanaga pitched six strong innings of one-run ball, the offense did not give him any support whatsoever. Additionally, newly signed relief pitcher Jake Woodford gave up three runs in the two innings he covered.

Previously, Woodford had been with the Milwaukee Brewers, but was designated for assignment following an unsuccessful start to the season. Chicago decided to pick him up and parted ways with Bryse Wilson to make room for him.

Ironically, Wilson was then signed by the Brewers. He pitched a scoreless inning relief of Milwaukee on Saturday, the same day the Cubs moved on from Woodford.

The Chicago Cubs designate Jake Woodford for assignment as Phil Maton returns

On Saturday afternoon, it was reported that Woodford has been designated for assignment as Phil Maton is returning from the injured list:

Saturday @Cubs roster move:

Phil Maton reinstated from the 15-day IL.

Jake Woodford DFA’d.

— Elise Menaker (@EliseMenaker) July 11, 2026

Maton was on the 15-day injured list with knee tendonitis, an injury the Cubs seem to blame for his horrendous season in 2026. So far this year, he is 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA in 30 appearances.

Woodford, of course, will be placed on waivers. If he clears waivers, he can be out-righted to Triple-A or choose to become a free agent. When he was DFA’d by Milwaukee, he cleared waivers and chose free agency, which is how Chicago got him in the first place.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• MLB analyst forced to defend choice to leave Pete Crow-Armstrong off MVP list
• Former Cubs reliever Bryse Wilson signs with hated division rival
• Cubs trade deadline update will have fans beside themselves

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are staring down an interesting dilemma as the August 3 MLB trade deadline approaches.

They are definitely in the mix when it comes to making the playoffs, firmly in second place in the NL Central Division, but still in the top National League Wild Card spot.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Insider names young Cub most likely to be traded at deadline

Given the brutal state of their pitching staff and the wild wave of injuries that brought them there, Chicago will have to go out and make some important pitching acquisitions by the deadline.

The team must also keep one eye on the future when dealing for arms, as starters Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and David Peterson are all to become eligible for free agency at the end of this season, along with relievers Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar (plus, position players Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, and Michael Conforto).

In a perfect world, anyone the Cubs pick up at the deadline would also be someone they could count on for 2027 and/or beyond.

Joe Ryan, not going anywhere?

More News: Chicago Cubs bullpen health update: Who’s due back and when?

Unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins’ right-handed starting pitcher Joe Ryan, who’s under contract through the 2027 season and has been repeatedly pegged as an ideal target for the Cubs’ front office, may now be off the table entirely.

On Friday, a trade between the Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays likely established the fact that Minnesota will be buyers, not sellers, as the deadline approaches. In trading catcher Ryan Sprock for veteran reliever Tommy Nance, the team signaled their intent to fortify rather than auction off. They are currently just 3 games out of first place in the AL Central Division and well in the mix for a Wild Card spot.

The 30-year-old Ryan would’ve been a smart addition for the Cubs, given his success this season (2.85 ERA through 19 starts) as well as the fact that he could be penciled in as a rotation piece next season.

There are still some high-profile starting pitchers, fitting the Ryan contract mold, potentially on the trade market, such as the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara and the Angels’ Reid Detmers. But, actually, the Marlins, who are nine games above .500 and currently qualifying for a Wild Card spot, may not be sellers this deadline, either.

Cubs not as aggressive at deadline as predicted?

There’s also the reality that the Cubs may not be as aggressive at the deadline as many think they might be (and should be).

“It has been a really up-and-down season,” Hoyer recently told The Athletic. “There’s no reason to think that’s the way the rest of the season is going to go. It could go that way, or we could just proceed to level things out, and I hope we do. But, yeah, this is a really important stretch. The market will dictate a lot of those things. But, of course, our play is going to dictate a level of aggressiveness.”

“You have to look at how your team is playing,” Hoyer added, “how you are relative to .500. How are your underlying numbers? How is your health? You have to understand your own team.”

Looking at little in the way of available starters with years of team control ahead and sporting a reluctance to spend prospect capital on a three-month rental arm, the Cubs may disappoint a lot of fans with their additions at the trade deadline.

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The Chicago Cubs, if they want to secure a spot in the postseason and do something there, need to make some serious moves prior to the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

More News: Chicago Cubs bullpen health update: Who’s due back and when?

Pitching, of course, will be the focus. The team currently has a full major league-viable pitching staff out of commission and is working with several arms that can only be considered emergency fill-ins. Chief among the currently injured pitchers is Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, Jameson Taillon, Hoby Milner, and Phil Maton.

The two questions before the deadline, however, are: Who could the Cubs realistically target for trade deadline acquisitions and who, exactly, would they be willing to give up in any high-profile deal?

Chicago has some attractive young talent that could be seen as expendable in the right trade. A lot of it is bundled up at the Triple-A level or on the major league bench. What all these young talents have in common is a blocked path to an everyday starting gig with the Cubs.

The young Cub most likely to go

More News: Chicago Cubs update on Justin Steele is a brutal reality check

Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic feels that one particular prospect is the most likely of the bunch to be dealt in a deadline deal—outfielder Kevin Alcantara.

Per Sharma:

“Alcantara has immense talent and a high ceiling, but he just hasn’t gotten a chance to play regularly. When he has, he hasn’t shown the power upside that he has displayed in the minors. While he has a .296 ISO at Triple A this season, he’s yet to get an extra-base hit in 38 MLB plate appearances spread across three years.

At his best, Alcantara is a plus defender in center field with speed on the bases and power at the plate, but his mistakes on the bases this season have limited him to being used solely as a bat against lefties. He hasn’t done enough in those moments to force the issue and earn more playing time. That and the fact that the outfield has three everyday players has made it feel like Alcántara is the odd man out. He’d obviously have a shot at winning a roster spot next year with Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ both pending free agents, but he is not a lock to receive everyday playing time.”

Kevin Alcantara’s realities

Alcantara—among a major league or near-major league group that includes Matt Shaw, Pedro Ramirez, and Moises Ballesteros—has, arguably, the greater upside when it comes to all-around tools. But he’s wilted whenever moving up to the big league level. Up until this season, he had also started slipping in his status as a top prospect, falling off Top 100 prospects lists and regarded by many as a young player whose progress had stagnated.

This year, though, he’s had an explosive year in Iowa, smashing 17 home runs in 216 at bats and slashing .273/.367/.569, and has regained some of the sizzle attached to his name.

Alcantara is still only 23 and he does have a very high ceiling when/if he can put all the pieces together and the Cubs will need viable outfield options with the possibility of both Happ and Suzuki being lost to free agency after this season.

What might make him especially tradeable is that he’s out of minor league options after this season and he’ll have to be a ‘roster or release’ player at the major league level if brought up at any point in 2027. That lack of flexibility might guarantee a ticket out of the Cubs’ system this summer.

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The Chicago Cubs are 52-42 on the season following their 4-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Now with two games remaining before the MLB All-Star break, they are 7.5 games out of first place in the National League Central Division.

Of course, they still hold one of the three Wild Card spots in the National League, which means that they have a clear path to the postseason. In order to get there, though, they will need to avoid the valleys that have plagued them at time in the first half of the year.

And to do that, they will need more/better pitching.

Chicago Cubs encouraged to add Casey Mize ahead of the MLB trade deadline

Renowned ESPN baseball analyst and insider Jeff Passan recently published an article in which he identified the dream target for each contending team in Major League Baseball. When it came to Chicago, he suggested that they try to acquire Detroit Tigers starter Casey Mize:

“While Mize and [Sonny] Gray, even at their best, are more like No. 2s, they are cut from the same high-strikeout, low-walk, limited-homer cloth and feature ERAs a point-and-a-half lower than any of the Cubs’ regular rotation players.

“Mize’s availability depends on the Tigers’ viability. If they keep winning and believe they’re legitimate playoff contenders, he could stay.”

The Tigers, after a very slow start to the season, suddenly have found themselves just 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. If the are able to gain even more ground, Mize will stay put (as will two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal).

Mize is just 4-5 this year, but boasts a 2.64 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. If he is made available via trade by Detroit, the Cubs should certainly push to get him before the Milwaukee Brewers do.

It is worth noting, though, that Mize will be a free agent at the end of the year.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• MLB analyst forced to defend choice to leave Pete Crow-Armstrong off MVP list
• Former Cubs reliever Bryse Wilson signs with hated division rival
• Cubs trade deadline update will have fans beside themselves

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 52-41 on the season and in second place in the National League Central Division. Throughout the course of the year, they have gone through many ups and downs, yet remain a team with one of the five best records in Major League Baseball.

Through it all, Gold Glove outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been a mainstay in Chicago’s lineup. While an early-season slump had him knocked down to ninth in the batting order, he has rebounded beautifully and arguably is now one of the best lead-off hitters in the game.

Despite how much he has carried the Cubs so far this season, one MLB analyst does not consider him to be an MVP candidate.

MLB Network analyst does not believe Pete Crow Armstrong is an MVP candidate

Earlier this week, MLB Network analyst Greg Amsinger revealed his list of the top-10 most valuable players in Major League Baseball. He did not include Crow-Armstrong on the list, and was criticized for this omission on social media.

Later, he defended his stance, though his co-hosts (two former Major League players themselves) disagreed with him:

Greg defends his first-half MVP rankings and explains why he left PCA off his list, but @CliffFloyd30 and @Plesac19 disagree https://t.co/WBK8Kc7uN0 pic.twitter.com/qG6rURJj2C

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 10, 2026

“PCA, you’re my favorite player. I love PCA. He is a star. But folks, this is what I care about. Is your team winning, and it’s the first half’s most valuable players.

“PCA might win MVP (he won’t because Ohtani’s going to win it), but the whole second half.”

He then showed a graphic that compared Crow-Armstrong’s stats from his first 58 games to those of his last 35:

• First 58- .224/.314/.362, six home runs
• Last 35- .406/.494/.819, 15 home runs

“I think he was mismanaged! It wasn’t his fault! But for the first 58 games, he was one of the worst players on the Cubs. They were batting him ninth, not his fault. Then they move him to the lead-off spot, last 35 games, and he’s the best player in the world. You can’t be the MVP of a half if you’re one of the worst players on your team for 58 games.”

While one can see this argument to an extent, the fact remains that Chicago’s rise from the depths of the NL Central over the last month have been largely because of the spark Crow-Armstrong provides. The fact that they are in a position to compete for a Wild Card spots is largely due to his play.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Former Mets GM admits he misjudged Pete Crow-Armstrong with trade
• Cubs bullpen health update: who’s due back and when?
• Cubs update on Justin Steele is a brutal reality check

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Earlier this year, the Chicago Cubs signed right-handed relief pitcher Bryse Wilson in hopes that he could help bring some stability to their injury-riddled bullpen. After all, he had previously pitched for Cubs manager Craig Counsell during his days with the Milwaukee Brewers, and the familiarity helped make sense of the deal despite Wilson’s struggles in 2025 and 2026.

Unfortunately, it did not work out. Wilson appeared in just two games for Chicago and had an 8.22 ERA. The Cubs decided to designate him for assignment after they picked up Jake Woodford. After clearing waivers, he elected free agency. Now, he has rejoined Chicago’s biggest rival.

Former Chicago Cubs RHP Bryse Wilson signed with the Milwaukee Brewers

On Friday morning, it was reported by MLB insider Robert Murray that Wilson has agreed to a contract with the Brewers. What is not clear, though, is whether it is a Major League or minor league contract. If it is a Major League deal, Milwaukee will have to clear a spot for him on their 40-man roster.

Ironically, Woodford, whom Chicago signed before designating Wilson for assignment, was previously DFA’d by Milwaukee before signing with the Cubs.

This will be Wilson’s second stint with the Brewers organization. He pitched in Milwaukee from 2023-2024 and appeared in 87 games with a 3.42 ERA. His best season was in 2023 (Counsell’s final year there) when he appeared in 53 games, went 6-0, and posted a 2.58 ERA.

After leaving Milwaukee, Wilson had stints with the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cubs. In that time, he was 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA. Clearly, it appears his hope is that he will be able to regain his form back with the Brewers organization.

The move makes sense for Milwaukee, who, like the Cubs, are starting to deal with some injuries to their pitching staff. This past week, two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff was placed on the injured list for the second time this season. An MRI revealed a new injury to his surgically repaired shoulder, and the next steps for him are not clear that this point.

Wilson almost certainly will not be used as a starter in Milwaukee, if he even is added to the Major League roster at some point. However, he could give them another long relief option if they move someone like Chad Patrick back to the rotation.

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of pitching before the MLB trade deadline, and everyone knows it. Their starting rotation has been ravaged by injuries this season, and the arms who have stayed healthy haven’t performed up to par.

The Cubs have managed to post a 52-41 record in spite of their poor pitching staff, but you do have to wonder how much longer the team will hold up in its current predicament.

Chicago is expected to heavily pursue starting pitching between now and Aug. 3, and it already swung a deal to acquire David Peterson from the New York Mets. Of course, more moves are anticipated, but actually completing significant trades might prove difficult.

Why? Because there are still far too many ballclubs in playoff contention to outright sell, and we know that pitching is at a premium.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic recently reported an update on the Cubs’ searching for hurlers, and let’s just say it won’t make fans too happy.

Chicago Cubs fans won’t like this MLB trade deadline update

Mooney has revealed that Chicago may have difficult finding answers in its rotation, and members from within the organization have said so themselves.

“Club officials are anticipating a scarcity of starting pitchers available this summer and a trade market that could drag out until the deadline. Some improvements will have to come sooner and from within, and perhaps in less obvious ways,” Mooney wrote.

Make no mistake: the Cubs absolutely must upgrade their starting pitching staff if they want to have any chance of making a deep playoff run. Shota Imanaga is currently the ace of the staff, and he owns a 4.28 ERA and 4.67 FIP this season.

Cade Horton is out for the year, and Justin Steele might not pitch in 2026. Then, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Ben Brown are all on the injured list, and outside of Brown, its’ not like those guys had been all that effective anyway.

Chicago has been able to get by thus far thanks to an offense that ranks fifth in the majors in OPS, but at some point, the Cubbies are going to need to fix their rotation.

The problem is that actually doing so may prove more challenging than the Cubs initially expected.

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The Chicago Cubs are 52-41 on the season following their 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. They will now play a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds to close out the first half of the season before the All-Star break.

It has certainly been a roller coaster of a first half for Chicago. While they did have two different ten-game winning streaks, they also had a ten-game losing streak and went over a month without winning a single series.

Despite their struggles and multiple injuries, they are in second place in the National League Central Division and currently hold the NL’s top Wild Card spot.

Pete Crow-Armstong named the Chicago Cubs MVP of the 1st half

While the Cubs were going through the lowest of their lows this year, Gold Glove centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was also struggling. At one point, he was moved all the way down to ninth in the batting order because of how bad he was performing at the plate.

And then he got hot. Red hot. And Chicago has been playing better ever since.

In their latest MLB power rankings, Fox Sports slotted the Cubs in at sixth and named Crow-Armstrong the team’s MVP of the first half of the season:

“This is one of the easiest choices on the list. Pete Crow-Armstrong trails only Shohei Ohtani in fWAR and leads the Cubs in hits, homers and every slash-line category. His .910 OPS ranks in the top 10 among all qualified MLB hitters, and he also happens to be the best defensive center fielder in the game.”

So far in 2026, PCA is hitting .296/.387/.543 with 21 home runs, 52 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. Already having achieved a 20-20 season, he is the first Cubs player to reach those marks in back-to-back seasons since Sammy Sosa.

If he keeps up this level of play, she should get some MVP consideration after the regular season as well.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Former Mets GM admits he misjudged Pete Crow-Armstrong with trade
• Cubs bullpen health update: who’s due back and when?
• Cubs update on Justin Steele is a brutal reality check

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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With the MLB Trade Deadline looming, it’s a crucial time for general managers. While they look to improve their team by making a big splash or by acquiring prospects, mistakes can still be made.

Back in 2021, the Chicago Cubs were in a tough spot and opted to sell off their core who brought them a World Series. While it was hard for some fans to take, the Cubs did land a star in one of those trades. Chicago acquired Pete Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets in a deal that revolved around Javier Baez. Since then, Crow-Armstrong has developed into one of the best outfielders. Meanwhile, Baez is now with the Detroit Tigers.

It’s a move that haunts the New York Mets and former general manager Zack Scott is now opening up about it, admitting a mistake.

New York Mets GM Zack Scott says he ‘misjudged’ Pete Crow-Armstrong

Earlier in the week, Scott talked about the decision to trade Crow-Armstrong now that he’s not with the Mets anymore. He admitted he misjudged Crow-Armstrong and that it was not a deal he felt good about doing for the long term.

“When you look back, it’s easy to say that was a bad trade long term,” Scott said. “And I’d say this, at the time, it’s certainly not a deal you feel good about doing long term.”

He also revealed that there was some bias in the decision as well. Scott was with the Boston Red Sox from 2004-2020 and in the 2020 draft, the Red Sox did not like Crow-Armstrong. He was drafted 19th overall.

That played a role in also trading him via MLB.com:

Scott said part of the reasoning for including Crow-Armstrong in the trade was a bias coming from his background working in the Red Sox front office. He said they didn’t like Crow-Armstrong in the 2020 Draft — when the outfielder went 19th overall. Furthermore, Crow-Armstrong was rated as the fifth-best prospect in the Mets’ system, behind the likes of Francisco Alvarez, Ronny Mauricio, Allan and Brett Baty.

The Cubs initially targeted Matt Allan, the No. 3 Mets’ prospect in 2021. Instead, the Mets decided to send Crow-Armstrong. It worked out in the long term for the Cubs as it stands.

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The Chicago Cubs have been besieged by pitching injuries this season.

The misfortune of the starting rotation has gotten the most headline attention, of course. Losing Cade Horton for the season and Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Jameson Taillon for extended periods of time is exceptionally noteworthy. Then, of course, there was the setback in Justin Steele’s rehab from elbow surgery last year.

More News: Chicago Cubs update on Justin Steele is a brutal reality check

But the Cubs bullpen has also been rocked by injury, stressed and strain to the point of near collapse. Currently on the shelf are closer Daniel Palencia and anticipated high-leverage relievers Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Hunter Harvey, along with Riley Martin and Ethan Roberts.

The hope is that a lot of the Cubs’ big bullpen players might be in line for a return after the All-Star break and that, possibly, there might be some reinforcements acquired before the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

Maton’s rehab assignment, Palencia’s target date

More News: Chicago Cubs: The great PCA vs. Ohtani debate

Here’s an update on the status of at least a few of the team’s bullpen pieces:

Phil Maton, who was put on the shelf June 26 with right knee tendinitis—his second stint on the IL with the same issue—had his first minor league rehab outing with the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday. The veteran right-hander looked sharp in striking out four in 1.2 scoreless innings.

A healthy, productive Maton would provide a big boost to the Cubs, who signed the reliever to a two-year, $14.5 million contract expecting him to be an anchor in a restocked bullpen. The ten-year veteran, however, has struggled all season and is currently posting a 6.08 ERA through 30 appearances.

An even bigger deal for the Cubs is probably the status of closer Daniel Palencia.

The hard-throwing 26-year-old is working through his second stint on the IL, this time dealing with right elbow inflammation and a mild flexor strain. This injury, along with an earlier lat strain that had him on the shelf, has limited the righty to just 16.2 innings over 19 appearances this season.

Recently, Cubs manager Craig Counsell offered an update, stating that the closer won’t begin throwing to any serious degree until after the All-Star break.

The news puts into question Palencia’s ability to step back into his late-inning high-leverage role. In turn, it also adds another item to the Cubs’ trade deadline shopping list—a capable closer.

Milner and Martin

Lefty Hoby Milner, who had been one of the team’s most reliable bullpen arms until sidelined on June 27 after an emergency appendectomy, seems to have a more straightforward path to his comeback. If there are no unforeseen setbacks in his recovery, the window for return appears to be early-to-mid August.

Surprising rookie breakthrough bullpen asset Riley Martin is now throwing and stepping up his rehab after going on the 60-day IL with a left elbow flexor strain. A late August return seems to be the most realistic estimate for him.

In the meantime, as the Cubs wait on their returning bullpen assets, the team will continue to make due with their current ragtag group of relievers, consisting in great part of castoffs from other teams.

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The Chicago Cubs, throughout the offseason, were regarding Justin Steele as a bit of an ace up their sleeve.

More News: Chicago Cubs: The great PCA vs. Ohtani debate

The team would be going into the regular season with a five-man staff of Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga. However, the lefty ace would not be far behind, lurking in the shadows and finishing up his rehab from elbow surgery in April of 2025.

Originally, the target comeback date was the All-Star break. Then, with things going smoothly, that target turned to May-June.

A flexor strain in April put the kibosh on the feel-good vibes. Now, from the looks of things, not only is a return to the rotation not going to happen, but Steele’s ability to pitch—at all—this season seems increasingly unlikely.

A sobering update

More News: Chicago Cubs desperately need Matthew Boyd to be Matthew Boyd

On Wednesday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell offered an update on the soon-to-be 31-year-old and where he’s at physically.

“Justin saw the doctor yesterday and, really, all is good,” Counsell told reporters. “It’s progress. We’re in good shape. We move forward. So, he’s basically gonna continue what he’s doing. He’ll start hitting the mound probably, like, the first week of August.”

Counsell would also issue a more sobering update on what can be expected from the southpaw this season.

“Stretching out as a starter is really not realistic with the calendar …. The schedule is very tight with Justin, and it doesn’t leave (room) for a lot of things to happen, there’s no question about it.”

Counsell’s words echo the update offered by Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer a little over two weeks ago in an interview on 104.3 The Score.

“It’s probably unrealistic to think he’s going to be fully stretched out at any point,” Hoyer said. “If he does help us, I think it’s going to be in shorter bursts…We have to hope that he can, potentially, come back at the end of the year and help us and [with] improved health headed into the offseason so that we know we’ve got a really good pitcher for next year.”

A realistic timeline for Steele’s return

Given the nature of his injury and the setback suffered in recovery, Steele may not get back to serious throwing until the end of August and then he’d need at least a couple of rehab outings in the minors to get his feet back under him. And this is all under an absolute best case scenario.

Realistically, if the team is lucky, they could get him back at some point in September as one of the team’s call-ups when rosters expand. That’s definitely not ideal when the expectation was a high-profile spot in the starting rotation mid-season. But the Cubs could do a lot worse than a well-seasoned lefty with a considerable track record of success behind him as their fourteenth pitcher.

Steele has a 3.30 ERA over his 5-year run with Chicago and has been the team’s most consistently effective starter since he became a full-time rotation piece. In the three years from 2022 through 2024, he was also regarded as one of the top starters in all of major league baseball.

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Despite the struggles the Chicago Cubs had in the month of May, they will enter the MLB All-Star break within reach of the Milwaukee Brewers and the NL Central. Chicago has fallen behind with that rough stretch but some recent good play has put them right back in the mix.

They are doing so with an abundance of injuries to their pitching staff as 13 pitchers are currently on the injured list. It’s a mixture of relievers and starters who are on the injured list for the Cubs and it’s an area they could look to improve at the trade deadline.

With the deadline approaching in early August,  the latest rumors suggest the Cubs will target pitching. However, they won’t prioritize a starter to a reliever or vice versa.

Latest on Chicago Cubs’ trade deadline rumors

The deadline is still weeks away but the All-Star break is when things could heat up. The Athletic reported on Wednesday that manager Craig Counsell won’t view the rotation or bullpen as an exclusive priority:

With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, Counsell won’t be viewing the rotation and the bullpen, exclusively, in terms of priorities. A pitching staff is so connected that there can be different ideas about game-planning and packing the roster with more talent.

But even Counsell acknowledges that certain players can have an outsized impact, the skills and presence to make other pieces fit together better.

Instead, the Cubs will look to add where they feel they can whether that is a starter or a reliever. That’s a good thing too.

It almost feels certain that the Cubs will land a pitcher, and probably more than one at the deadline. But will they go out and land a big fish? Freddy Peralta and Tarik Skubal are the two biggest names that could be available. Chicago’s farm system isn’t the greatest but they could also look to deal someone like Matt Shaw in a package as well.

The bottom line is if the Cubs pitching doesn’t get healthy and better, it could be a early exit for the playoffs if they make it.

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The Chicago Cubs absolutely need starting pitching, and while they have already acquired David Peterson, they are expected to add at least one other impactful arm by the MLB trade deadline.

The question is, just how much would the Cubs be willing to surrender in terms of prospect capital to get the rotation help they need?

While Detroit Tigers superstar Tarik Skubal is probably out of the question, there should be some other compelling pitchers available, although the field may be shrinking right now with so many teams still in playoff contention.

Surely, Chicago will be able to find someone. After all, it’s pretty much a must for the Cubs to bring in another starter if they want to have any chance of embarking on a sustained playoff run. Their pitching staff has been a complete mess this season, and there is almost no way they are winning a World Series as currently constructed.

Tim Boyle of FanSided has actually pitched an idea that would see the Cubbies land Baltimore Orioles left-hander Trevor Rodgers, but he has them paying a hefty price to do so.

Chicago Cubs linked to questionable trade for Trevor Rogers

Boyle’s proposal has the Cubs sending infielder Pedro Ramirez as well as pitchers Brooks Caple and Dawson Netz to the Orioles in exchange for Rogers, which would represent one heck of a package for Baltimore.

“Rogers’ trade value will be determined largely by how he does in his final starts before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Orioles should re-group rather than push for something that won’t happen: a championship run. Ramirez gives them an immediate big-league infielder to add to their mix while Caple becomes an interesting arm tossed into their system. Netz can be considered the ‘throw-in,’ but with such good results in Double-A this year, he’s a significant enough piece to satisfy,” Boyle wrote.

Rogers has logged a 4.70 ERA through 16 starts this season, allowing 82 hits while registering 65 strikeouts over 84.1 innings of work. Last year, the southpaw posted a 1.81 ERA and 0.903 WHIP across 18 starts, and he does have an All-Star appearance under his belt back when he was with the Miami Marlins in 2021.

But is Rogers really good enough for Chicago to give up Ramirez and Caples in the same deal?

The 28-year-old owns a lifetime 3.95 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.302 WHIP, so he’s been decent, but he has also been wildly inconsistent and has dealt with his fair share of injuries issues throughout the course of his career, which began in 2020.

Rogers could comprise a decent addition for the Cubs, but that price is definitely a bit scary.

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Chicago Cubs fans can whip out a laundry list of instances where the team has come out on the short end of a high-profile trade. Actually, everyone is crossing their fingers that the Owen Caissie-for-Edward Cabrera trade isn’t one of those cases as Chicago’s former no. 1 prospect is heating up in Miami as Cabrera is on the shelf.

More News: Chicago Cubs desperately need Matthew Boyd to be Matthew Boyd

The great Cubs purge of 2021 may have been one of those instances where the team’s best laid plans didn’t quite work out, with one glaring exception—Pete Crow-Armstrong.

At the time, new Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made the tough call to cut ties with many of the stars of the 2016 World Series team in return for a haul of prospects to restock an ailing farm system. But despite giving up Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant, among others, the team, as of right now, only has Crow-Armstrong and Kevin Alcantara to show for it.

But, well, Crow-Armstrong has been his own one-man army, so maybe that makes up for none of the other prospects of 2021 panning out.

“PCA” has been so dominant of late, by the way, that he’s starting to get some side-by-side, who’d you rather have comparisons with Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

PCA vs. Ohtani

More News: Chicago Cubs’ ESPN midseason grade is a testament to their true grit

A casual look at the WAR stats—which are supposed to represent a player’s across-the-board value to their team—shows Crow-Armstrong atop the leaderboard when it comes to exclusive position players. Ohtani as a position player who’s also a pitcher, however, ranks slightly ahead of him with a 5.7 WAR to PCA’s 5.4.

Podcaster Jim Miloch posted a side-by-side comparison of Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani on Monday, via Baseball Refernce Stathead, to show just how closely the two All-Stars match up in terms of offensive stats.

Yes, Ohtani is pitching lights out this season.

And yes, PCA is very much in the MVP race this season. https://t.co/bFMN0csEBI pic.twitter.com/9UzOblsUgF

— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) July 6, 2026

As of this writing, the two are still right with each other. Ohtani is currently slashing .294/.409/.541 with 20 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. Crow-Arsmtrong is slashing .293/.383/.525 with 19 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. One important factor to note, though, is that the Cub is now doing his work from the leadoff spot, where he’s seeing fewer RBI opportunities.

Who’d you rather have?

But then, of course, one has to take into account the Japanese star’s status as an elite-level pitcher. On the season so far, he’s 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA over 14 games and 85.2 innings.

On the other hand, what about PCA’s ultra-elite defense in center field? Ohtani has a -.7 WAR on defense as a pitcher and hasn’t played outfield since 2021.

Working against conventional baseball wisdom, one could argue about the comparative worth of one quality start every fifth game versus the worth of every day elite defense on the field.

Ohtani is a superstar for a reason and, yeah, he’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent filling two high-end roles on one team. But Crow-Armstrong, as “only” an outfielder is not too far behind him as an asset. He’s also just 24 with lots of run for further growth.

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The Chicago Cubs, at this point of the season, were supposed to be filthy rich in starting pitching depth, rocking a five-man rotation of Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga, with Justin Steele just about to return to his spot. And, just in case, the team had Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown in reserve.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ ESPN midseason grade is a testament to their true grit

Well, things most certainly didn’t turn out as planned.

For one, Cade Horton was lost for the season in just his second start and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Steele suffered a setback in his own recovery from elbow surgery and might now be forced to settle for a 2027 date for his full comeback. Cabrera and Taillon are currently on the IL with hamstring strains. Brown, who had been a surprise breakthrough star as a rotation fill-in, is now gone for an extended period of time due to a neck injury. Last year’s ace and this year’s Opening Day starter, Boyd, meanwhile, already has two IL stints under his belt.

Matthew Boyd is back

More News: Chicago Cubs acquire groundball specialist to help ailing pitching staff

But it looks as though Boyd may have turned a corner on this season as he came back from surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. It certainly looked that way on Tuesday as the 35-year-old blanked the Baltimore Orioles through six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven.

Since his return from the IL, the veteran southpaw is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three outings.

And everyone has been quick to put him back firmly atop a ragtag rotation now consisting of Rea, Assad, Imanaga, and David Peterson below him. They’re eager to welcome him back as the ace because, well, they really, really need him to be the ace.

“His presence is very important for us,” Manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the Cubs’ 5-2 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. “That means it’s a guy that makes every start, that you can count on, that single-handedly won some games for us. He goes deep into games. That’s the ability that we sorely need and are going to need for the second half.”

Having Boyd back right now is also heavy with symbolism for a Cubs pitching staff that has been absolutely besieged with injuries and misfortune.

Maybe the tide is turning at just the right time?

Bad luck fading?

Boyd has been cooking. Taillon is due back soon, possibly after one more minor league rehab outing. Cabrera and closer Daniel Palencia should be back in early August. Even bullpen assets such as Hoby Milner, Phil Maton, and Riley Martin should be ready for the fiercest part of the second-half pennant race.

Plus, there’s hope in who the Cubs may acquire prior to the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

For now, though, having Boyd back healthy and dealing is the immediate focus.

The time on the IL may even be a plus for a pitcher with a significant history of injury and one who seemed to fade late last season under the workload. Heading into the second half of the season with only 39.2 innings logged so far, Boyd’s arm should be fairly fresh for the upcoming push.

“I like to think I’m fresh in that regard,” Boyd told media after Tuesday’s outing. “Just go out there and attack every pitch until Craig takes the ball from me. I’m doing everything I can to be ready every time the ball’s given to me.”

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The Chicago Cubs are searching far and wide for pitching help, and while they’ve already acquired David Peterson from the New York Mets, they are obviously looking for more upgrades between now and the MLB trade deadline.

One name that has consistently surfaced as a possibility for the Cubs is Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta, who seems all but guaranteed to be dealt by Aug. 3.

But would it be worth it for Chicago to add Peralta?

The 30-year-old owns a 4.68 ERA in New York this season, and he is slated to hit free agency at year’s end. There is a pretty good chance that Peralta would be a two-month rental, and the Cubs surely wouldn’t want to gut what’s left of their farm system for a pedestrian pitcher who can simply walk over the winter.

On that note, Chicago just received some an update on the Peralta trade front courtesy of a piece by Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Chicago Cubs’ cost for Freddy Peralta revealed

Sammon does seem to believe that a Peralta trade is all but inevitable in the coming weeks, and while the two-time All-Star has struggled in 2026, Sammon does not think that will stop the Mets from landing a decent return for him.

“Multiple scouts and executives who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak freely on the topic said the Mets should end up doing fine on a return for Peralta. It’s unlikely they’ll score the equivalent of what they shipped to the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter for Peralta: pitcher Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams, two top-100 prospects. But they should do OK,” Sammon wrote.

The fact that New York won’t be reaping a haul for Peralta is not surprising based on the way he has pitched this season as well as his impending free-agent status. But the Mets could still land a nice package, which is bad news for the Cubs.

Let’s remember that Chicago has already jettisoned a couple of key pieces of its farm system in recent years, sending Cam Smith to the Houston Astros in the Kyle Tucker trade two offseasons ago and then shipping Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins for Edward Cabrera this past winter.

Names like Moises Ballesteros, Kevin Alcantara, Pedro Ramirez, Jefferson Rojas, Josiah Hartshorn and Jaxon Wiggins are still in the mix, but would the Cubs surrender any of them for Peralta? It’s certainly debatable.

The post Cubs’ Freddy Peralta trade price revealed, and it’s disappointing appeared first on ChiCitySports.

As the All Star break approaches, the Chicago Cubs hope to see some of their key injured pitchers return soon after. Cubs manager Craig Counsell provided updates on Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Daniel Palencia on Tuesday afternoon.

Counsell mentioned Taillon (hamstring) is slated to make one more rehab start and is eyeing a return after the break, barring another pitcher going down and him needing to return sooner in a “limited” role. Cabrera (hamstring) is working his way back, with Counsell saying he had his “best throwing and running day” on Sunday.

Palencia (elbow) is “symptom-free” per Counsell, and throwing baseballs. He will likely not start mound activity until after the break. The bullpen has been a by-committee unit, especially in Palencia’s absence.

Craig Counsell provides updates on Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Daniel Palencia pic.twitter.com/xTmrXQTBQT

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 7, 2026

The Chicago Cubs need innings

There’s no sugarcoating the seasons that Cabrera and Taillon have had so far; it’s been rough. Cabrera has been on the IL multiple times and sports a 5.10 ERA, 5.08 FIP, 1.4 WHIP, and 14 homers given up in 14 starts. Taillon sports a 5.19 ERA, 6.32 FIP, 1.3 WHIP, and 20 homers given up in 13 starts.

The Cubs will need better from both of them, and they will need innings from them. With all of the injuries, the staff has been stretched so thin. At this point, having a starter that can get into the sixth inning and do just enough to keep the team in the game is welcomed.

Unfortunately, Cabrera is not the most economical pitcher. Taillon, however, has a track record of being economical. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged around six innings per start (rounded up), which for these days is pretty solid. Ideally, he helps eat some innings and pitches respectable enough to keep them in games. Cabrera will be expected to better channel his stuff and give them some quality outings. Even if they are not very deep. Time will tell if that actually happens.

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When the Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract in free agency, many were skeptical. It seemed like a awful lot of money to give an aging player who hasn’t really been elite in years.

Nevertheless, the Cubs needed a bat, especially after Kyle Tucker’s departure, so Bregman was the choice.

Needless to say, Bregman’s first few months in Chicago have not exactly gone according to plan. He is slashing just .241/.340/.345 with seven home runs and 32 RBI over 403 plate appearances, and if he doesn’t improve, it will be good for the worst season of his career.

Last year, Bregman posted an .821 OPS across 495 trips to the plate for the Boston Red Sox, and he owns a lifetime .270/.363/.471 slash line. So clearly, Bregman has not been living up to expectations. It doesn’t help that his attitude hasn’t exactly been great, either.

And heading into the Cubs’ Tuesday matchup against the Baltimore Orioles, they were hit with a rather strong accusation regarding Bregman due to his spot in the lineup.

Chicago Cubs accused of enabling Alex Bregman

Bregman was batting second for the Orioles game, this in spite of the fact that he hit just .200 in June and is batting .188 thus far in July.

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib was none too pleased with Craig Counsell’s decision, and he made sure to let Chicago hear about it a recent piece.

“It’s entirely possible that the Cubs reach a point in the season where Bregman has turned the page from these struggles. Until that happens, the decision is clear. Bregman needs to be moved down in the starting lineup, considering they are leaving scoring opportunities on the table,” Campbell wrote. “That’s a luxury the Cubs can’t afford at the moment.”

Campbell focused specifically on Bregman’s struggles with runners in scoring position, noting that he is batting just .184 with a .556 OPS in those scenarios. That’s in stark contrast with his career numbers, as he is a lifetime .282/.382/.496 hitter with men in scoring position.

The 2-hole is generally reserved for one of your best sluggers, and Bregman has certainly not represented that for the Cubs in 2026.

It might be time for Counsell to take action and send a message to the star third baseman.

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 The Chicago Cubs will enter the All-Star break knowing they need to make a run in the second half of the regular season.

The Cubs are 50-40 before starting their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. They’re 6.5 games back from the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central but hold a 1.5-game lead in the wild card hunt.

Chicago has stayed steady in the playoff chase despite having serious turmoil with the starting pitching rotation and in the bullpen. The Cubs are expected to add arms before the trade deadline on Aug. 3.

Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN argued the Cubs need to listen to offers for right fielder Seiya Suzuki as they look for pitching help. Suzuki, 31, is set to hit free agency after this season.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ ESPN midseason grade is a testament to their true grit

Would the Chicago Cubs trade Seiya Suzuki?

More News: Cubs acquire groundball specialist to help ailing pitching staff

“Chicago wants to get creative to fill its pitching issues, and that means at least listening on Suzuki, who will be a free agent at the end of the season,” they wrote. “Considering the paucity of impact outfielders available, Chicago could try to take advantage of the market and lean into its depth with Michael Conforto and Kevin Alcantara.

“At the same time, Chicago’s offensive woes make dealing a hitter of Suzuki’s caliber potentially counterproductive. The Cubs want to win this season, but their May swoon hasn’t entirely abated in June, and they might not have a clear sense of how they want to approach the deadline until it nears.”

Suzuki is batting .264 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs this season. Losing Suzuki would mean Chicago would lose one of its most reliable bats, but that could be an acceptable tradeoff for a team that needs pitching help.

ESPN only gives a 15 percent chance that the Cubs will trade Suzuki, so it’s unlikely to happen. But the idea is worth considering for Chicago given the desperate need in the bullpen.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are a second place team in the NL Central Division and are currently the top seed in the National League Wild Card race.

More News: Chicago Cubs acquire groundball specialist to help ailing pitching staff

Those aren’t overwhelmingly spectacular achievements as of right now, just a handful of games before the All-Star break—especially for a team heavily favored to win their division outright and make some big noise in the playoffs.

But for a team that has gone through what they have? The feat of simply competing at this point is really deserving of kudos.

Imagine any team, no matter how stacked and how all-around good, losing four of their five projected starting pitchers, as well as their closer and a handful of their high-leverage relievers. Nobody would look poorly on a team curled up in a proverbial ball, looking to next season after suffering through such a wave of injury and misfortune.

The Cubs, though, have kept fighting and have kept themselves in good standing as one of the better clubs in the league. All of this is a testament to the character of the team put together by Cubs president Jed Hoyer and his front office.

The Cubs’ midseason grade

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David Schoenfield of ESPN recently issued midseason grades for all 30 teams and gave the Cubs a good, solid B.

Per Schoenfield

“What a weird, wild ride this has been. Two 10-game winning streaks, a 10-game losing streak, another 11-2 stretch, and then those back-to-back games where they won 23-3 and then lost 17-1. Pete Crow-Armstrong is suddenly drawing walks and is hitting .292/.383/.527, so combine that with his spectacular defense and he’s a legitimate MVP contender, even against a two-way Shohei Ohtani.

The glaring problem: Cade Horton (last year’s breakout), Ben Brown (having a breakout season), Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon are all on the injured list, joining Justin Steele, who is still recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery. That would be one of the best rotations in the game if they were healthy. Oh, closer Daniel Palencia is also on the IL, as are key relievers Phil Maton and Hoby Milner. No team has a clearer mission at the trade deadline: Get some pitching reinforcements.”

True grit

The one thing that can’t be denied about this 2026 Cubs team is their gumption. They’ve proven their strength of character all throughout this season.

“I never saw our guys waver or falter today,” pitcher Jameson Taillon told reporters after a crazy come-from-behind victory back in April. “It would have been easy going down 5-0 and just kind of be like ‘welp, let’s go on the road we got swept’, it was just a really cool vibe and energy today where I thought everyone was picking each other up, guys passing the baton to each other as the game went.”

And they’ve been picking each other up and passing the baton all year.

This passing of gut-checks gives a definite degree of optimism for the second half of the season as some injured pitchers return and some high-profile additions can be made before the August 3 trade deadline.

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The Chicago Cubs have gone through a legion of pitchers—of all sorts, styles, and levels of experience—in a desperate, and seemingly non-stop, effort to replace roster arms that have fallen to injury.

More News: Chicago Cubs: PCA’s newfound discipline has been a game-changer

The team had stockpiled arms during the offseason, mostly through minor league contract signings, but have needed to add more and more live bodies as the season has progressed.

The Cubs have lost a good chunk of the pitching that was expected to carry the team to a deep playoff run—thirteen casualties in total. They are currently minus starting pitchers Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Jameson Taillon. In the bullpen, closer Daniel Palencia is on the shelf, along with Hoby Milner, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and a few others. Meanwhile, returning ace Justin Steele suffered a setback in his recovery and may have shifted the comeback target for 2027 instead of the May-June originally hoped for.

So, the team has been manning the waiver wires and searching for the right castoffs to bring aboard. They also pulled the trigger on a deal to bring over David Peterson from the Mets. The hope is that this patchwork pitching staff that they’ve assembled will hold long enough for some of their injured pitchers to return and/or until Cubs president Jed Hoyer can acquire some backup by the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

Josh Fleming is brought aboard

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In their latest move to patch up the holes in their hull, Chicago has signed 30-year-old lefty Josh Fleming to a minor league contract.

Fleming was let go by the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday after he chose to exercise a “use me or lose me” opt-out in his contract to force his way onto the team’s 40-man roster.

The six-year major league veteran has had sparse success at the big league level with the Rays, Pirates, and Blue Jays, posting a 4.86 ERA over 257.2 total innings. At the minor league level, though, he’s been rock solid. This season at Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization, he delivered a 3.08 ERA in 64 innings, striking out 51 and only allowing 11 walks while serving as a starter in 12 of his 13 appearances.

A groundball specialist

Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation took a deeper dive when it comes to Fleming’s underlying stats shortly after the news of the Cubs signing broke:

“But look under the hood at that Buffalo performance, because it’s an interesting profile: 19.0% K, 4.1% BB, 50.5% groundball rate, 3.54 FIP.

That walk rate is bonkers, and it’s not a one-year fluke. He’s always been a control guy. Same with the grounders: Fleming’s groundball rate has never been below 54% in any of his big league seasons, and it has at times pushed toward the mid-60s(!). He does it with a high-80s/low-90s sinker and a changeup-sweeper-cutter mix, which is to say nothing about this profile is loud. It’s all strikes and contact management.”

The promise of what Fleming could be has kept him in pro ball and it’s what encourages teams to give him opportunities to stick around and prove himself.

In the case of the Cubs, who are desperate for pitching anywhere they can find it, Fleming would appear to be one of the better on-the-fly signings this season. His extreme groundball rate could play well with the Cubs infield defense behind him and his ability to eat innings—as either a starter or reliever—could help fill gaps until reinforcements can be brought in.

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The Chicago Cubs, at 50-40, are in a position to be buyers at the deadline. This is a good thing in more ways than one. Not only is a National League playoff spot within their grasp, but they are in this position despite the plethora of injuries suffered to their pitching staff.

In other words, if Chicago could just field a healthy starting rotation and keep their best bullpen pitchers healthy, they are one of the best teams in baseball. Even though they have not been able to do either, they are still right in the mix.

And with the MLB trade deadline coming up, there are any number of pitchers they could look into adding.

The Chicago Cubs named the best fit for right-handed pitcher Jose Soriano

While there are multiple perennial All-Star pitchers that could be available on the trading block, the Cubs may be more interested in acquiring a pitcher who is younger and has more years of club control left. Such is the case of Jose Soriano, whom ESPN believes would fit in nicely with Chicago:

“Since starting the season by giving up one run in his first 37⅔ innings, Soriano has posted an ERA approaching 5.00. The stuff still really plays, and plenty of organizations believe they can help work out the control kinks that can plague Soriano.

“Add to that the two years of control and the same pitching-hungry organizations that want Detmers — contenders and teams that intend to contend in the coming years — will be interested in Soriano.”

The only issue with Soriano and his potential for being traded is that he does have those two years of club control left. Los Angeles may be more inclined to keep him. Still, they are stuck in a perpetual rebuild and the Cubs may be able to convince them to send him to Chicago for the right package of prospects.

Soriano, overall, is 8-5 with a 3.42 ERA so far this year. More importantly, at least for the Cubs, he has been healthy.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• PCA’s newfound discipline has been a game-changer for the Cubs
• Cubs rumored to headline blockbuster trade package for this player
• Cubs choice of Jake Woodford over Bryse Wilson reeks of desperation

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are 50-40 on the season and just six games back of first place in the National League Central Division. One must really credit the grit the team has shown so far in 2026. They have had to overcome seemingly insurmountable injury blows all season long, yet are in a position, once again, to compete for a postseason spot.

It has not been a very consistent season. While there have been long winning streaks, there has also been a long losing streak, and Chicago went an entire month without winning a single series.

There is no question that they are capable of being one of the best teams in the Majors, but can they play like one on a regular basis?

The Chicago Cubs come in 6th in Bleacher Report’s latest MLB power rankings

Last week, Bleacher Report had the Cubs ranked seventh in their weekly MLB power rankings. This week, they have put them up a spot to sixth, but issue a serious question regarding the rest of the season:

“If you slept through the first 85 games of the season and happened to start watching Cubs games just in time for them to consecutively smoke the Padres 23-3 and get stomped 17-1 by the Cardinals this past week, well, that was the 2026 Chicago Cubs in a nutshell.

“There have been more ups than downs, but they’ve had some ridiculously high peaks and some disturbingly low valleys. They have the offense to contend for a World Series, but can they trade for an entire pitching staff over the course of the next four weeks?”

The question BR has is the same one the organization their fans have, too. Will their pitching be enough? Unfortunately, the Cubs have suffered some serious injuries to their pitching staff, and need to add multiple arms ahead of the MLB trade deadline in order to have a realistic shot of making a deep postseason run.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• PCA’s newfound discipline has been a game-changer for the Cubs
• Cubs rumored to headline blockbuster trade package for this player
• Cubs choice of Jake Woodford over Bryse Wilson reeks of desperation

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs are six games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central Division. At 50-40, they are well in the mix for a spot in the MLB postseason, even if they are not able to retake first place in the division.

However, in order for them to have any kind of success late in the year and in the playoffs (should they make it there), they need to have healthier and more reliable pitching. Throughout the course of the 2026 season, the Cubs pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, both in the starting rotation and bullpen.

It is clear, therefore, that they need to target a pitcher or two as the MLB trade deadline draws near.

The Chicago Cubs named a best fit for six-time All-Star Josh Hader

ESPN recently updated their list of the top 100 players that may be available via trade ahead of the MLB deadline at the end of the month. Current Houston Astros closer Josh Hader came in at 13th. As fans may recall, he broke into the Majors with the Brewers while Cubs manager Craig Counsell was in Milwaukee.

The sports network also listed Chicago as one of the best fits for the six-time All-Star, writing, “Hader is one of the best examples of why so many teams are chasing pitchers with big extension and lower arm slots who can still get “lift” on their fastballs: The angle at which his pitch approaches the plate (very flat) makes it very hard for power hitters to get on plane.

“That means lots of whiffs and mishits at the top of the zone, which then also means any sort of decent or deceptive off-speed pitch will also play well as hitters gear up for the heater. Hader’s bullet slider, placed below the zone, gives hitters fits for this reason: They miss on over half of their swings on the pitch.”

After missing much of the first part of this year as he recovered from injury, Hader is currently 3-0 with a 0.60 ERA and nine saves. Obviously, the hard-throwing lefty would be a godsend to Chicago’s beleaguered bullpen.

The issue, though, is that Hader is under contract for two more seasons after this one, and will cost roughly $25 million a year in addition to the prospects the Cubs would have to give up in order to get him. While they may be willing to part with some minor league talent, they may not be willing to take on his salary.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• PCA’s newfound discipline has been a game-changer for the Cubs
• Cubs rumored to headline blockbuster trade package for this player
• Cubs choice of Jake Woodford over Bryse Wilson reeks of desperation

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago  sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was hot enough in June to earn himself the NL Player of the Month award. So far in July, he’s doing even better.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Taillon’s first rehab outing; Cabrera throws for the first time since injury

Through July 5, the 24-year-old is hitting .500 and posting a crazy .625 on base percentage, with one home run and 3 RBIs.

In June, he slashed .381/.468/.781 with 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.249. During one stretch, he had a 14-game hitting streak.

An under-the-radar noteworthy feat this season for PCA, though, is his incredible turnaround when it comes to patience, discipline, and taking walks.

PCA has grown up quickly

More News: Chicago Cubs: Shelby Miller may be pitching sooner than expected

Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation recently noted this development—and how, also, the young star is way ahead of the curve in plate development:

“PCA’s walk rate is now up to 10.5% on the season. League-average is 9.0%. In what universe would it have been realistic to predict, say, last year that PCA would be an above-league-average walker at some point in his future? MAYBE when he was 30 years old and was forced to improve his discipline as athleticism declines? Even then, you often see guys with high swing tendencies and great bat speed go in the other direction (more early swings) as they lose some of their ability to go with their A-swing deep in the count and not have their whiff rate spike. So for PCA to have developed more selectivity this young – this quickly! – is (1) almost unimaginable, and (2) outrageously important for his long-term productivity.”

Crow-Armstrong, who was recently named to his second All-Star team, has quickly learned the value of taking pitches in order to force pitchers to throw him the right ones to drive.

MLB insider and Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine confirmed this mindset via comment relayed to him by Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman:

Alex Bregman told me after the game “Pete is now looking for that one pitch to drive. The swing and miss decreases, the walk increases. He is looking for one good pitch and now he destroys it.”

A true multi-tool weapon

A fully actualized PCA is a very dangerous multi-tool weapon to have. Adding a touch of patience and nuance to his tool set of elite defense, foot speed, and raw hitting ability makes him a true force. It’s everything the Cubs had hoped for when they traded away Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to acquire the then-teenage sensation from the New York Mets in 2021.

Former Met and current Cub David Peterson, for what it’s worth, questioned the trade from the moment he heard about it, based on what he saw from just one spring training with the Mets.

“I saw enough right away that I knew he was going to be a special kid,’’ Peterson said.

“He’s just a natural, so, yeah, it’s fun to watch. I always thought he was one of the best guys in our system. I didn’t think it was a great trade at the time, and we’re seeing it now. The kid’s got five tools. So much fun to watch every day.’’

If Crow-Armstrong keeps playing like he has been lately, that fun is going to last for quite awhile.

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The Chicago Cubs will almost certainly make some moves before the MLB trade deadline. In fact, one could go as far to say that it is an absolute must if the Cubs want to have any chance of making a deep playoff run.

While Chicago needs help up and down its roster, its biggest need is certainly in the starting rotation, where it has been absolutely ravaged by injuries. And as for the Cubs starters who have remained healthy? Let’s just say they haven’t performed up to par.

Chicago has been rumored to be in the mix for a plethora of names in the lead up to Aug. 3, and it already landed David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets.

Of course, Peterson isn’t a marquee addition, and he absolutely cannot be the only pitcher the Cubs add in the coming weeks.

So, who else will the Cubbies pursue? Well, Jim Bowden of The Athletic has tabbed Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray as a likely target, and he feels it will cost Chicago one of its top young players: Matt Shaw.

Chicago Cubs could trade Matt Shaw for Sonny Gray

Shaw was once a top prosect in the Cubs system and made his big-league debut last year, slashing .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI over 437 plate appearances.

It was a rather disappointing debut campaign for Shaw, although he did demonstrate incredible versatility by manning a variety of different positions in 2025. He has displayed similar versatility in 2026 and has also seen progress with his bat, owning a .246/.322/.415 slash line across 147 trips to the dish.

Shaw has been sidelined since late June due to a sprained hand, and he isn’t due back until after the All-Star break. But could he be in his waning moments with Chicago?

“The Cubs could offer Matt Shaw as the headliner in the package, and he would be a solid fit for Boston,” Bowden wrote of a potential Gray trade.

Gray has pitched to the tune of a 2.61 ERA and 1.104 WHIP this season. His 3.60 FIP and 3.68 xERA indicate that he may be benefiting from some good luck, but considering that he owns a ground-ball percentage of 47.6 percent, he should be able to perform equally as well with the Cubs’ infield defense behind him.

The 36-year-old owns a lifetime 3.54 ERA and is earning $11 million this season. He has a $30 million mutual option for 2027.

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The Chicago Cubs’ story this season has centered around the calamity that has been their pitching. Specifically, it centers around the injuries that have caused that calamity.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Shelby Miller may be pitching sooner than expected

The team currently has a full major league-level pitching staff on the IL. Many of the thirteen pitchers on the shelf—Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele, Daniel Palencia, Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, Hoby Milner, Phil Maton—factored heavily into plans for this season’s run at the postseason.

Amid this wave of misfortune, Chicago has had to rely on castoffs from other organizations to fill essential staff spots. And although they’ve done pretty well considering the constant setbacks, the reality of the situation is that their current ragtag squad of pitchers will not carry them through the playoffs and, maybe, won’t even get them there in the first place.

But there is at least some good news on the pitching front.

Taillon’s rehab outing with South Bend

More News: Chicago Cubs: Hoyer offers harsh reality check on trade deadline expectations

On Sunday, veteran right-hander Taillon pitched his first rehab session since going down with a left hamstring strain on June 9.

Pitching for the High-A South Bend Cubs against the Beloit Sky Carp, the 34-year-old allowed four hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings pitched, posting two strikeouts and no walks. In total, he threw 45 pitches and delivered 35 of them for strikes.

There’s been a lot of talk that the Cubs might opt to make this Taillon’s only rehab start before bringing him back to the major league team. It’s possible that a short outing with Chicago could be in the plans before using the upcoming All-Star break as extra time off for rest and recovery.

Bringing him back in this manner is a bit of a push, but the Cubs are at the point of desperation when it comes to fielding a team with established big league pitchers. Even with Taillon’s ugly 2-5 record and 5.19 ERA through thirteen starts, the Cubs are still betting on him being better than anyone else they have left in reserve.

A “good day” for Cabrera

Meanwhile, there was also some good news on the Edward Cabrera front.

On Sunday, the hard-throwing 28-year-old threw his first bullpen session since being placed on the IL June 24 with a left hamstring and adductor strain. Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the outing as “a really good day.”

Cabrera, however, has also struggled prior to getting hurt. In fourteen starts, he’s logged a 5-4 record and an ugly 5.10 ERA.

The Cubs practically started the 2026 season with bad luck when they lost 24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton for the season to an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery in just his second start of the year. From there, pitching piece after pitching piece fell. Even rehabbing ace Justin Steele, whose return from last year’s elbow surgery was expected around May-June, experienced a setback in his recovery and could be lost for the rest of the season.

It would be a big deal if Taillon and Cabrera could be back with the team at full strength for the pennant push through August-September. Until then, the Cubs will have to keep treading water with the best pitching they can currently muster and hope for a haul of reinforcements at the August 3 trade deadline.

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Over the winter, the Chicago Cubs needed starting pitching, so they went out and acquired Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins. They sent top prospect Owen Caissie to the Marlins in exchange, so it was painful, but it was a move they felt they had to make.

The Cubs pursued Cabrera at the MLB trade deadline last summer, but were unable to come to terms with the Marlins on a deal the. They had been aggressively pursuing Cabrera for quite some time, and they finally landed their man.

But here we are, past the halfway point of the 2026 campaign, and Chicago may ultimately regret its move.

Cabrera has struggled mightily, owning a 5.10 ERA and 1.396 WHIP through 14 starts. He is now on the injured list for the second time this season, and it’s not like his 5.07 FIP indicates that he has been a victim of bad luck when he has been on the mound.

As for Caissie? Well, let’s just say the former Cubs farmhand has been tearing it up in Miami.

Chicago Cubs surely regret the Owen Caissie trade

Caissie got off to a slow start this season, but since then, he has been raking.

The talented outfielder has already homered 11 times while driving in 49 runs on the year, posting an .835 OPS in May and an .865 OPS in June. He has played a significant role in the Marlins’ turnaround over the month-plus, and Chicago could certainly use that production … or at least it could use Caissie as an asset.

Caissie is also slashing a fantastic .317/.351/.617 with runners in scoring position, and his 1.210 OPS in high-leverage situations is beyond fantastic. His defense certainly leaves something to be desired, but he was never touted for his glove when he was in the Cubs’ system, anyway.

Cabrera could make Chicago forget about this deal — at least in some capacity — by bouncing back once he returns from injury, but it’s also important to remember that the right-hander has tossed 100 innings just once in his major-league career. That came last season, when he tallied 137.2 frames in a career year for the Marlins.

The Cubs desperately needed pitching when they acquired Cabrera (they still do), and the 28-year-old absolutely has outstanding stuff. You can understand why they made the trade. It just might not turn out very well for them.

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The Chicago Cubs have not had a healthy pitching staff for the entirety of the 2026 MLB season. As the season has progressed, they have suffered more injuries to both their starting rotation and bullpen, forcing them to get creative with how they approach each and every game.

On Saturday, the Cubs decided to sign right-handed reliever Jake Woodford, who was released by the Milwaukee Brewers nearly a month ago. Unfortunately, it is a move that does nothing to move the needle for Chicago.

The Chicago Cubs adding Jake Woodford in favor of Bryse Wilson does nothing for them

On Saturday, it was reported that Chicago had signed Woodford to their active roster and designated Bryse Wilson for assignment:

The Cubs DFA’d Bryse Wilson and added Jake Woodford to their active roster before tonight’s game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Woodford, a 2015 first-round pick of the Cardinals, pitched for the Brewers and their Triple-A affiliate earlier this season.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 4, 2026

Now, Wilson was far from good during his short tenure with the Cubs. In two appearances, he posted an 8.22 ERA. The thing is, though, Woodford was not exactly great for Milwaukee either. In 16 appearances, he was 1-0 with a 6.94 ERA.

In fact, the majority of Woodford’s appearances in a Brewers uniform were in mop-up duty, when the team was either ahead or behind by a comfortable margin. They did not trust him in high-leverage situations.

Clearly, Wilson was not getting the job done for Chicago. But the fact of the matter is that Woodford likely will not either. He can give them multiple innings of relief on any given day, but he is going to give up a lot of runs. Unless the Cubs feel like they see something that no other team has seen in Woodford, this transaction simply makes no sense.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Shelby Miller may be pitching sooner than expected
• Jed Hoyer offers harsh reality check on Cubs trade deadline expectations
• Cubs pitching plan is clear after latest addition

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs made some interesting moves this past offseason, beyond the signing of third baseman Alex Bregman and four veteran relievers to help restock a depleted bullpen (Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Hunter Harvey).

More News: Chicago Cubs: Hoyer offers harsh reality check on trade deadline expectations

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and his front office added a number of pitchers via minor league deals—a stockpiling of arms that now seems absolutely prescient given the team’s current struggle with pitching injuries.

They also made one curious free agent pitching acquisition for a bullpen arm still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

In mid-February, Chicago officially announced that they had signed veteran right-handed reliever Shelby Miller to a 2-year, $2.5 million contract.

The 35-year-old Miller had undergone Tommy John surgery in the fall—the second of his thirteen-year major league career—and was expected to spend all of 2026 in recovery and rehabilitation in hopes of a full return at the start of the 2027 season. Basically, the Cubs were gambling on getting just one good season from the high-upside pitcher for their relatively minimal investment.

Shelby Miller throwing, hoping for a 2026 return

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two trade deadline pitchers who could be had practically free

Recent developments, however, indicate that Chicago might get some return on their investment considerably sooner.

In a July 1 article for The Athletic, Cubs insider Patrick Mooney briefly mentioned that the pitcher was actually targeting a return before the end of this season:

“Shelby Miller, a talented reliever who signed a two-year deal while recovering from Tommy John surgery, has been pushing through his rehab program in the hopes of joining the bullpen at some point later this season.”

Then, on Saturday, Rich Biesterfeld, Arizona correspondent for the Iowa Cubs and South Bend Cubs, posted a video on social media of Miller actually throwing batting practice.

Per Biesterfield:

“Interesting development after today’s Arizona Complex League game. Pitcher Shelby Miller threw live BP to 3 hitters. Shelby is 7 months post surgery and throwing! Been mentioned as a possibility to help the big league team later this season.”

Ahead of schedule

Miller was once a considered a high-end starting pitcher, but persistent arm issues forced a move to the bullpen. He’s bounced around a lot through his major league run, pitching for ten teams—including a brief stint with the Cubs in 2021. He has a 4.04 career ERA and posted a 2.74 ERA over 48 appearances in 2025 with the Diamondbacks and Brewers before his injury.

“This is a signing for the future,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said at the time of Miller’s signing. “This year is very much in question, obviously. It would be fast for this year, so this is about next year primarily. But you’re hoping to see how the rehab goes and see what happens there.”

At this point, any established pitcher coming back to contribute this season would be a major plus. As things stand right now, the team has 13 pitchers on the injured list—including many, such as Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Daniel Palencia, and Edward Cabrera, who figured prominently in the Cubs plans this season.

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The Chicago Cubs are in a tough spot. At the moment, they’re a half-game out of qualifying for the last National League Wild Card spot. They’re also six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central Division (and just a half-game ahead of the third place St. Louis Cardinals).

More News: Chicago Cubs: Two trade deadline pitchers who could be had practically free

But one can’t look at the team—given the talent they have and the gumption they’ve shown— and say that they aren’t a legitimate playoff-level team, capable of doing big things.

All of this leaves Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer with some difficult decisions to make when it comes to trades before the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

The team absolutely needs pitching. Their ability to compete for postseason play hinges on a much-needed fortification of a staff decimated by injury. But given the realities of this team and its upside possibilities in the face of an avalanche of injuries, is it smart to deal away important prospect capital? Will one or two pitchers acquired at the deadline merely make this Cubs squad a first or second round playoff team en route to being crushed by a much more well-rounded contender?

Hoyer on trade deadline realities

More News: Chicago Cubs: The awful truth behind the team’s history-making two-game stretch

“It has been a really up-and-down season,” Hoyer told The Athletic on Friday. “There’s no reason to think that’s the way the rest of the season is going to go. It could go that way, or we could just proceed to level things out, and I hope we do. But, yeah, this is a really important stretch. The market will dictate a lot of those things. But, of course, our play is going to dictate a level of aggressiveness.”

That last sentence was the important part of Hoyer’s statement. It also makes it pretty clear that Chicago’s aggression at the deadline will totally depend on how well the team is playing and, therefore, how realistic are their chances of doing anything in the postseason.

“You have to look at how your team is playing,” Hoyer added, “how you are relative to .500. How are your underlying numbers? How is your health? You have to understand your own team.”

The harsh reality may be that ‘understanding’ his own team means understanding that there are so many holes—specifically in the pitching department—that there may be no point in spending too much to try and patch them up.

Disappointment ahead?

The end result may be a small handful of smaller pickups and a crossing of the fingers that Jameson Taillon, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and some of the other injured Cubs pitchers can come back and contribute.

For now, playing small ball with acquisitions is definitely the plan until closer to the deadline.

“It’s not like there’s tons of teams that are looking to move players at this moment,” Hoyer commented. “Everything is so bunched together. I think that’s what’s going to happen. We’ll keep making small moves and keep trying to patch holes and do those things. The hope, every time, is that you churn through and you find a guy or two that can really help you over the long haul.”

All of this means that Cubs fans better brace themselves for some real disappointment come trade deadline.

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The Chicago Cubs are in dire need for pitching, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen. They are expected to make some significant moves to address the issue before the MLB trade deadline, but for now, they are making marginal moves to try and catch lightning in a bottle.

First, they acquired David Peterson in a small trade with the New York Mets. He looked good in his first outing, giving up just two runs over 5.2 innings, but against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, he was shelled for a career-worst 10 runs in a 17-1 loss.

Obviously, the Cubs are hoping that Peterson can regain his prior form.

Then, most recently, Chicago signed former Milwaukee Brewers reliever Jake Woodford, who hasn’t pitched in a month but could represent a low-risk option for a bullpen that has experienced some issues throughout the year.

Both Peterson and Woodford had an ERA north of 6.00 when the Cubs landed them, so what is the plan here? It seems pretty clear.

Chicago Cubs have a clear plan for their pitching staff

Chicago has one of the best infield defenses in all of baseball, so Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell probably feel pretty confident in pitchers who make hitters put the ball on the ground.

Peterson’s 3.86 FIP with the Mets indicated that he was the victim of some harsh luck from his horrendous defense, and his career 51.1 percent ground-ball rate was definitely a good sign. Not that it worked well in Peterson’s second outing with the Cubs, but it could bode well long term.

As for Woodford? You have to look a little bit harder to see the good, as he owns a lifetime 5.25 ERA and 4.77 FIP since entering the big leagues in 2020. But he does lay claim to a respectable 3.97 FIP this season, and he has been able to induce ground balls in the past (he posted a GB% of over 50 percent in 2022 and 2023).

Chicago’s strategy is clear: acquire pitchers who can make use of the team’s fantastic infield. At least for now.

There will come a point where the Cubs have to get a pitcher who can actually make hay on his own, and they have until Aug. 3 to do that. For now, they are just trying to find quick fixes.

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The Chicago Cubs need pitching. They REALLY need pitching. As evidenced by Friday’s 17-1 drubbing at the hands of the division rival St. Louis Cardinals, things have the potential to get very ugly as the team continues to man their injury-decimated pitching staff with castoff arms from other organizations.

More News: Chicago Cubs: The awful truth behind the team’s history-making two-game stretch

In yesterday’s ugly beating, Cubs newcomers David Peterson and Bryse Wilson gave up 17 earned runs in 7 combined innings. Unfortunately, Friday was probably closer to meeting reasonable expectations than Peterson’s and Wilson’s Cubs debuts on June 27 and 28, respectively, when they allowed just two total earned runs in 10 innings.

But what else can the Cubs do but keep plugging in emergency fill-ins however possible? The trade deadline is still about a month away and not many teams seem willing right now to part with pitching.

The reality of this situation is that the Cubs will have to ride out this storm until they can have a chance of adding some arms at the deadline.

Another reality, though, is that the Cubs’ organization is not exactly overflowing with prospect capital or, at least, with prospect capital the team is willing to part with.

So, Chicago may have to engage in some extreme creative shopping before the August 3 deadline. And if they can add an arm or two who could also be penciled beyond 2026, well, all the better.

Two under-the-radar trade targets

More News: Chicago Cubs GM opens up about trade deadline finances and the tough decisions ahead

Paul Niemiec of North Side Baseball recently tossed out a couple of names that may not be Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, Logan Webb headline-grabbing acquisitions, but could be quality pickups nonetheless.

One is Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals.

Per Niemiec:

“Wacha is in the midst of another strong season for the last-place Royals…Wacha leads the team in innings pitched with 108 2/3, and has the lowest ERA of any starter on their staff, at 3.31. He is also pitching with a defense behind him that ranks 20th in DRS. On the Cubs, this is a guy who could not only improve their depth but actually provide meaningful innings in the postseason. Since he is owed $14 million next season, the Royals might jump at the chance to move him.”

The other is Michael Lorenzen of the Colorado Rockies.

Again, per Niemiec:

“Does anyone else feel like Lorenzen should have played on the Cubs by now? Knowing how the front office operates, he seems like a perennial free agent target for this team. The Rockies aren’t a bottom-tier defensive team, placing 17th in the league in team DRS, but Coors Field is not doing Lorenzen any favors. He has an unsightly 6.83 ERA, and his FIP is 4.70, but, shrug: Coors.”

The low cost of important arms

Niemiec feels that Wacha could be had for a package headlined by Triple-A first baseman Jonathon Long and High-A second baseman Ty Southisene. He estimated that Lorenzen could go for Triple-A second baseman James Triantos.

Long and Triantos have no path to starting with the big league Cubs and Southisene is a long way away from major league consideration.

The Cubs would be giving up practically nothing for two starting pitchers with a degree of success behind them and years of potential team control (Wacha is under contract next season and subject to a club option in 2028 at $14 million per season. The Cubs would have a $9 million club option on Lorenzen for the 2027 season).

Acquiring starting pitchers who can contribute beyond this year is especially important given that Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon are set to become free agents at the end of this season.

Wacha and Lorenzen are certainly names worth checking out. At this point, the Cubs can’t afford to overlook any pitching that might come into their line of sight.

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Aside from their brutal 17-1 loss at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, the Chicago Cubs have largely righted the ship.

The Cubs have won 15 of their last 20 games to re-assert themselves as serious National League playoff contenders, which followed an absolutely miserable stretch in which they went just 7-22 and appeared headed toward potentially selling at the MLB trade deadline.

We now know almost certainly that Chicago will not be selling. In fact, the Cubs are expected to be one of the more aggressive teams on the trade front between now and Aug. 3.

Chicago has a multitude of needs on its roster, with the primary hole being in the starting rotation. But while the Cubs need starting pitchers, they could also use some relievers, as well, especially given Daniel Palencia’s multiple IL stints.

There should be some intriguing bullpen arms available in the coming weeks, and Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has pitched an idea that would land the Cubbies a reunion with Aroldis Chapman.

Chicago Cubs trade proposal lands Aroldis Chapman

Chapman famously pitched in Chicago for a few months in 2016, helping the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908. Chicago had acquired the left-hander from the New York Yankees midway through that campaign, and now, the Cubs may look to snatch him from another AL East club in 2026: the Boston Red Sox.

Miller’s proposal has Chicago sending catcher Ariel Armas and pitcher Brooks Caple to Boston in exchange for Chapman.

“Chapman is the most intriguing closer believed to be on the trade block. He successfully converted each of his first 14 save chances prior to a couple of hiccups in late June, but hard to argue with 16-for-18 on the year and nearly 400 saves in his career,” Miller wrote. “Chapman is making $13M in 2026 and is owed $13M next season, provided he reaches 40 IP (currently at 24.2) and passes an end-of-year physical. But that’s a price the Cubs can afford to pay to add something close to a sure thing to their mess of a bullpen.”

The Cubs would not surrendering any top-tier prospects in this package, as Armas is ranked 18th and Caple is 13th in Chicago’s system (via MLB.com).

Chapman has pitched to the tune of a 2.10 ERA this season, allowing 21 hits while racking up 33 strikeouts over 25.2 innings of work. He has been a bit more shaky lately, but, for the most part, the flamethrower has still been dominant.

Chicago needs all of the pitching help it can get, so Chapman would absolutely represent a terrific addition while also having Cubs fans feeling nostalgic — and perhaps World Series bound once again.

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Never let it be said that the Chicago Cubs aren’t a very interesting team.

This Cubs squad has been nothing but up and down, hot and frigid, all year so far. When fortune shines, it’s as bright as the Wrigley afternoon sun. When bad luck comes around, it’s as dreary and overcast as an early spring rain delay at the friendly confines.

More News: Chicago Cubs GM opens up about trade deadline finances and the tough decisions ahead

These last two games kind of perfectly encapsulate what the North Siders have been suffering through all season.

On Wednesday, they blasted the San Diego Padres 23-3 in an absolute orgy of offense. On Friday, though, they were the ones being blasted in a 17-1 drubbing at the hands of the division rival St. Louis Cardinals.

History-making

More News: Chicago Cubs: Wicks sent down, Pomeranz called up ahead of Cards series

The analysts and stats companies were quick to dig up the numbers proving this to be an unprecedented two-day change from dominance to utter decimation.

Per OptaSTATS:

The Cubs are the second team in MLB history to win one game by 15+ runs but then lose their next game by 15+ runs.

The other was the Boston Beaneaters from September 10-11, 1894 – a 25-8 win followed by a 17-2 loss, both in Chicago against the Colts (the modern-day Cubs).

Per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, quoting Elias Sports Bureau:

“This marks the first time in MLB history that a team won a game by 20 or more runs and then lost its next game by at least 10 runs.”

Even without the stats reminder of how odd this dramatic turnabout was, everyone knows just how much of a deflating experience Friday afternoon could be for a team that had previously been riding high on a 15-4 run their last nineteen games.

Cubs Manager Craig Counsell tried to make some sense of it in his post-game comments to the press.

“Obviously, it was a rough day,” Counsell told reporters. “The one thing, we’ve got to get the ball on the ground more. I think today he [starter David Peterson] faced 23 hitters, one batted ball on the ground. And that’s something that David kind of excels at, he’s been good at it. Over 50% in his career. That’s a pretty big difference.”

Well, yeah.

The harsh reality facing the Cubs

But Friday’s squash showcased a very real problem facing a Cubs crew filled with pitching castoffs from other teams—they’re fielding a pitching staff filled with castoffs from other teams. Injuries have decimated Cubs pitching and they simply don’t have the proven arms to keep things running smoothly.

Peterson came via recent trade with the Mets, who had lost their faith in the veteran starter after he posted a 6+ ERA through June 21. On the heels of a solid first start with the Cubs on June 27 against the Brewers, he looked worse than he’s been all year in allowing 10 earned runs in 3.2 innings on Friday.

Bryse Wilson, who came to the Cubs as a waiver wire pickup, looked outstanding in his Chicago debut on the 28th versus the Brewers, delivering 4.1 scoreless innings. On Friday, he gave up 7 earned runs in 3.1 innings.

Counsell and the Cubs have done an outstanding job in getting solid work from a patchwork pitching staff, but the law of averages is catching up with the team. Despite the occasional success story, you can’t field third-tier pitchers and expect that they won’t perform at a third-tier level.

Unless Cubs pitching gets miraculously healthy over the next couple of weeks and/or the front office makes some major pitching acquisitions at the trade deadline, the rest of the season may look more like Friday’s game than Wednesday’s.

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The Chicago Cubs, after going on this most recent 15-4 run, are back in a position where the postseason is once again a big topic of conversation.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Wicks sent down, Pomeranz called up ahead of Cards series

But even through this feel-good stretch of winning, the harsh realities facing this particular team are painfully obvious. The 2026 Cubs, if they want to make a serious run to the playoffs and go deep into postseason play, desperately need pitching—in the form of both starters and relievers.

Injuries have absolutely decimated this staff and have forced the team to rely on a steady stream of emergency fill-ins pulled from desperate waiver wire pick-ups and fringe arms signed to minor league contracts.

With exactly a month to go before the August 3 MLB trade deadline, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins was peppered with questions regarding deals in a recent appearance on The Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show at 104.3 The Score.

Carter Hawkins grilled on trade deadline options

More News: Chicago Cubs pegged as aggressive buyers at trade deadline

When asked about whether the team, after spending a good amount of money in the offseason on free agent signings and contract extensions, would be in a financial position to pick up what they need, Hawkins assured that they’d have the resources to get the job done.

“We always want to be smart with our decisions,” Hawkins said. “Tom (Ricketts), whenever we’ve needed resources, he’s been there for us. So that’s just not our concern. Certainly, that doesn’t mean we’re going to go out and add $100 million to our payroll at the deadline. But I think if there’s a good move that’s good for our franchise and good for the current and future state of the Cubs, I think the resources will be there for it.”

Are rentals an option?

When asked about the team’s willingness to trade away prospect capital to acquire free agency-bound rental players, Hawkins insisted that all options are open, depending on the player and the price.

“I think we’re going to entertain any concepts,” the exec said. “We’re now in a position where we can dictate what direction we’re going in right now. Ten days ago, the sky was falling and ten days from now, who knows where we’re going to be. We’re focused on winning the baseball game today and trying to get through this game today. When we get closer to the deadline, and depending on where we are positioned as a club, we’ll make the best decision for the Cubs. If that [acquiring a rental player] is a scenario where that is the best thing for us, depending on the cost, depending on how we feel about particular pitchers or particular position players, or whatever’s out there from a rental perspective…But to say that one is definitely going to happen over the other, right now, would be pretty foolish.”

Last season, with the Cubs similarly in need of pitching for a playoff push, the Cubs disappointed many with what was regarded as a conservative haul at the deadline consisting of relievers Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers, along with swingman Michael Soroka and utility man Willi Castro.

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The Chicago Cubs made a couple of noteworthy roster moves ahead of their holiday weekend series against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. They’re the kinds of moves a team must make when
necessity forces them to be really creative with their pitching staff management.

More News: Chicago Cubs pegged as aggressive buyers at trade deadline

On Thursday, the Cubs optioned left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa. In a corresponding move on Friday, per MLB insider Bruce Levine and several other sources, Chicago is calling up veteran lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz, a former Cub signed to a minor league contract June 22 after being DFAd by the Los Angeles Angels.

Jordan Wicks down

More News: Chicago Cubs’ 19-year-old phenom achieves elite-tier prospect status, according to Baseball America

Wicks, despite two noteworthy outings since his June 28 call-up from Iowa, was never guaranteed anything other than a temporary fill-in spot on a Cubs pitching staff beleaguered by injury and grasping for healthy arms wherever possible. The team clearly feels the former first round draft pick is of greater use stretched out in Iowa as an emergency starter than sitting in the major league bullpen waiting for innings.

On Wednesday, the 26-year-old got credit for a save in his three-inning outing in the Cubs’ ugly 23-3 thrashing of the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field.

The Sunday before that, he notched another save when he came in and shut the door against a Milwaukee Brewers team with the base loaded and no outs, down 4-3 in the bottom of the tenth inning at American Family Field.

Drew Pomeranz up

The 36-year-old Pomeranz now comes in as the more experienced bullpen role player and short reliever, albeit one looking for a turnaround of what’s been an ugly 2025 season so far.

Through 25 appearances with the Angels, the veteran showed himself in deep decline, posting a 5.01 ERA over the first part of his one-year, $4 million free agent contract with the last place Southern California team before being released.

Last season, Pomeranz went from retirement-bound to a career rebirth with the Cubs after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations in late April. At the time, the veteran hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2021.

The southpaw would end up having an incredible bounceback year, posting a 2.17 ERA in 49.2 innings over 57 appearances as a key piece of Chicago’s bullpen. In the playoffs, he was also a solid presence with a 1.50 ERA over six innings pitched.

The Cubs passed on re-signing the free agency-eligible Pomeranz over possible fears of regression, but were fine with picking him up now on a minor league contract in hopes of a second career rebirth in Chicago.

Given the stress and strain caused by the mass wave of injury affecting the pitching staff, bringing back the former Cub for a second go was pretty much a “nothing to lose” no-brainer.

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The Chicago Cubs, just about a month ago, were in a deep and ugly dive. Not only had they fallen out of first place in the NL Central Division during their extended losing streak, they also found themselves just outside of even a wild card spot.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ 19-year-old phenom achieves elite-tier prospect status, according to Baseball America

But fortunes have definitely changed. And despite a pitching staff seemingly held together by Scotch tape, sticky gum, and hopes and wishes, the team has fought its way back to prominence. Over the last nineteen games, they are 15-4. They now hold the top wild card spot in the National League and are looking to put some distance between themselves and fellow NL Central wild card rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Needless to say, this turnaround now puts greater importance on the team’s moves by the August 3 trade deadline.

The need for pitching

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It’s certainly no secret what Chicago needs as they move into the final stretch of the season and, hopefully, into a deep postseason run. They need pitching. Specifically, they need reliable starters to replace the several rotation pieces currently hobbled or flat-out eliminated from the Cubs plans by injury. They could also use some added stability in a bullpen that has also been decimated by injury.

The team has already added several waiver wire arms to beef up the pitching staff and they even pulled off an early trade with the Mets for veteran starter David Peterson.

Mike Phillips of Fansided recently talked about this great need of theirs, as he urged the Cubs to be aggressive buyers at the deadline to fill it:

“With most of their position player group locked up long-term, the Cubs know they need to add to make a push at making up their five game deficit to the Brewers in the NL Central. Injuries have decimated the starting rotation, forcing Chicago to make an early buy to try and resuscitate David Peterson’s career.

Peterson stands to benefit from improved defense behind him, but that can’t be the only add the Cubs make for their rotation. There is no reason that the Cubs don’t walk away from this deadline with one of the top potential starters on the board, a group that includes Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Joe Ryan, to compete for a title.”

A month to go

But there’s still a whole month to go before the deadline and, with the divisional races as tight as they currently are, nobody’s even quite sure yet who will be buying or selling.

Jed Hoyer and the front office will also have to decide just how much they’re willing to spend in terms of prospect capital to acquire the pitching they’d like to add. A smart move—if they do end up being aggressive buyers—is to go after pitchers still with years of team control rather than 3-month rentals. At the end of this season, the Cubs could very well lose Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga (among several others) to free agency and it would be a huge plus to acquire a pitcher who could be plugged into the rotation next year as well as for the pennant race this season.

One thing is certain, though—the Cubs need pitching help if they hope to make the playoffs and have a chance at doing something in postseason play. Time will tell what approach they take.

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Ian Happ has been patrolling the Chicago Cubs‘ outfield since 2017, and while the results have mostly been positive, some Cubs fans just can’t help feel that he has been a bit of a disappointment.

A former first-round pick, Happ was a highly-touted prospect who got off to a tremendous start in his big-league career, smashing 24 home runs over 413 plate appearances during his rookie campaign. He seemed primed to develop into one of the game’s best hitters, and a parade of All-Star appearances seemed inevitable.

Unfortunately, that has not ended up being the case.

Happ is still good, but he isn’t quite what many expected. He owns a career .245/.342/.447 slash line and has never slugged more than 25 homers in a single season. He topped out at 86 RBI in 2024, and he has made just one trip to the All-Star Game.

Yes, the 31-year-old has won four straight Gold Gloves, but he has never quite measured up offensively. Now, he is slated to hit free agency over the winter, and there is a good chance that Chicago lets him walk.

But with whom will the Cubs replace him? Well, Ryan Phillips of Sports Illustrated seems to believe the Cubbies may find their answer in the MLB Draft.

Chicago Cubs linked to explosive Ian Happ replacement

Chicago will select 23rd overall in the draft, which begins on July 11. With that pick, Phillips has the Cubs snatching Louisville outfielder Zion Rose.

“The Cubs are in on the college hitting crop, and Rose fits this spot in the draft,” Phillips wrote. “He was excellent this year for Louisville, and while his home run numbers dropped, he slugged a career-best .646. Rose finished the 2026 campaign hitting .417 with a 1.137 OPS, with six home runs (down from 13 in 2025) and 24 stolen bases in 27 tries. He’s well-built at 6’1″ and 200 pounds, and his right-handed swing carries plenty of pop despite the diminished home run numbers. He has plus speed and a good arm, but he’s a poor fielder and likely ticketed for left field at the next level.”

Rose is a tremendous athlete, so the fact that he struggles defensively is odd. But he possesses a very impressive bat and he is a terrific baserunner, so he could actually represent an eventual upgrade from Happ in those areas.

The question is whether or not the Cubs — who strongly value defense — will be able to look past his questionable glove in the outfield.

It’s important to remember that both Happ and Seiya Suzuki are free agents after the season, so Chicago will have two outfield slots to fill. Of course, the Cubs could also always slide Matt Shaw into a full-time role in right field, so that’s also something to consider.

But perhaps Rose will factor heavily into Chicago’s plans at some point within the next couple of years. The Windy City certainly loves that last name, too.

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With the MLB Draft arriving next weekend, many Cubs fans have started asking a simple question: What happened to last year’s first‑round pick? That pick, outfielder Ethan Conrad from Wake Forest University, entered the organization with high expectations. He also entered with an unfortunate string of injuries.

The Cubs drafted Conrad 17th overall even though he dislocated his left shoulder — his throwing shoulder — while diving for a ball. The injury ended his junior season after only 21 games. However, he still hit .372 with seven home runs. This showed the advanced bat speed and plate discipline that made him a first‑round talent. Conrad chose to rehab the shoulder naturally, and the Cubs supported that plan.

Then February delivered another setback. Conrad suffered a stress fracture in his lower back while lifting weights at the Cubs’ spring training facility in Mesa. The injury halted his development. It erased the first two months of his season.

On Tuesday night, the Cubs finally received the news they needed: Conrad made his professional debut in the Arizona Complex League(ACL), stepping into the batter’s box for the first time since the draft. The game didn’t draw a crowd or cameras, but the moment still carried real weight for the organization.

The @cubs 2026 1st round draft pick @ethanconrad23 warming up and then hitting a sharp single in his first AB in the ACL. #Cubs #CubsProspects @WatchMarquee @BleacherNation pic.twitter.com/05JaTzLCf0

— Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22) July 1, 2026

The Cubs’ history with college hitters bodes well for Conrad’s development

The Cubs have built a strong history with college hitters who move quickly through the system:

• Kyle Schwarber
• Ian Happ
• Nico Hoerner
• Matt Shaw

Even Cam Smith, their 2024 first‑round pick from Florida State, followed that path. The Cubs traded him to Houston in the Kyle Tucker deal, and he debuted on Opening Day 2025.

Even without Conrad, the Cubs’ 2025 draft class looks strong:

• 2nd‑round pick Kane Kepley continues to hit well in High‑A South Bend and has earned a promotion to AA Knoxville soon.
• 6th‑rounder Josiah Hartshorn, only 19 years old, has become one of the top hitting prospects in the minors. He owns an OPS over 1.000 after his promotion to High‑A.

Conrad’s ACL performance could influence whether he starts at Low‑A Myrtle Beach or jumps straight to High‑A South Bend. Conrad could even slide into Kepley’s spot once Kepley reaches Knoxville.

Conrad’s debut doesn’t erase the setbacks, but it finally puts him on the field and inside the Cubs’ developmental engine. He’s taking the first real step toward becoming the hitter the Cubs believed he could be.

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The Chicago Cubs seem to have found a prospect diamond in the rough in the person of 19-year-old Josiah Hartshorn.

More News: Chicago Cubs legend offers insight on Alex Bregman struggles

In Baseball America’s most recent update to their Top 100 prospects list, the young outfielder was moved all the way up to no. 29. It was enough to elicit a “Hooooooooly crap” from Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami on Twitter/X.

Hartshorn’s ascension to elite-tier prospect status is an especially big deal given the surprise of it all.

Hartshorn’s quick rise

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He came to the Cubs as a fairly unheralded sixth round selection in the 2025 draft. However, his $2 million signing bonus from Chicago—a record-breaker for a sixth rounder—revealed just how much the organization valued what they saw as a top-tier bat.

The native of Orange, California didn’t play at all in 2025, but has been on an absolute rampage in this first year of professional ball. Originally pegged for A-ball Myrtle Beach, he quickly outgrew that level and was promoted to High-A South Bend, where he’s only gotten better and more lethal at the plate. He’s currently listed as the Cubs’ no. 3 prospect by MLB.com.

Through 32 games with the South Bend Cubs, Hartshorn is slashing .293/.367/.586 with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs—and that’s coming out of a recent minor slump. Over two levels, he’s slashing .282/.399/.518 with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs.

One of the more impressive things about the young talent is his plate discipline, which sees him already locked in at an elite-level walk rate (14.87%), alongside a solid 18.35% strikeout rate. His high on base percentage, along with the high batting average, home run power and low strikeout rate, places his performance so far well beyond what could ever be reasonably expected of a bat-first prospect selected as low in the draft as he was.

Jason Ross of North Side Baseball recently wrote up Hartshorn’s rise in the wake of his move up the Baseball America ladder:

“Josiah Hartshorn has had a rocket ship strapped to his back all season. He’s made quick work of Myrtle Beach and remains an outside chance of landing in Double-A Knoxville by the end of the year despite being 1.5 years shy of being able to order a beer at a ballgame. The 19-year old has been a revelation and an amazing draft pick so far. He even landed inside of the top 30 on Baseball America’s most recent top-100 list.”

The Cubs, by the way, placed three other prospects on the Top 100 list: Pedro Ramírez, Jefferson Rojas, and Kane Kepley.

The outfield of the future

Hartshorn’s progress is a big deal for a Cubs organization that was seen by many as depleted and on its way down. Combined with fellow outfield prospects Kepley and 2025 first round draft pick Ethan Conrad—who finally made his pro debut after recovering from assorted injuries—the Cubs seem to already have their outfield of the future set, although all three are still at High-A Ball or lower.

But this development may actually affect how the Cubs handle the pending free agency of corner outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki.

Will the team spend the money to sign one or both of the veteran outfielder to a deal that will probably be in excess of five years when they have a trio of quality prospects likely to rise quickly through the system?

That’s a question that will have to wait until the end of this season at the earliest.

For now, it looks like the Cubs may have a “real one” in Hartshorn.

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It seemed like everyone was getting in on the fun in the Chicago Cubs’ 23-3 pummeling of the San Diego Padres Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field—except for Alex Bregman.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Is Nico Hoerner back to being Nico Hoerner?

The three-time All-Star went 0-5 on a day when the Cubs were launching hits all over the place, managing one walk and nothing else in the feast of offense. After crushing a three-run homer against Padres pitching the day before, being shut out on a day like Wednesday had to be disappointing and frustrating.

Actually, the frustration seems to be boiling over a bit when it comes to the third baseman’s first season with the Cubs after signing a 5-year, $175 million contract with the team in the offseason. As of this writing, he’s hitting .240 with a weak .341 slugging percentage.

Jon Lester weighs in

More News: Chicago Cubs: Bregman gets testy over lack of hustle criticism

Former Cubs pitcher and key figure on the legendary 2016 World Series team, Jon Lester recently had some words of wisdom regarding Bregman and what he may be going through, mentally.

In a recent appearances on the Northside Territory podcast, Lester theorized that the pressure of performing on a new team may be affecting Bregman’s approach at the plate. Like Bregman, Lester also came to the Cubs on a lucrative free agent contract with a lot expected of him.

“That first month was probably one of the longest months I’ve ever had in the big leagues. I wanted the season total numbers in April,” Lester said. “You lose sight sometimes of who you are and what you’ve done and the track record and that sort of thing. So, I think for Bregman… I think he might just be pressing a little bit and you know wanting to be Bregman, wanting to hit that .270 to .290 with 25 to 30 homers… He wants to hit the four home runs before his first at bat.”

Lester also tossed out the possibility that the 32-year-old third baseman may be playing injured, at least to some degree.

“He may be banged up a little bit, we don’t know that,” Lester added. “But I know he’s definitely out there grinding and he’s definitely out there giving it everything he has… But hopefully he can kind of hold on in where he’s at right now and maybe get hot here in the next month or so and be Bregman like numbers toward the end of the season.”

Bregman’s thumbs down

On Tuesday, Bregman flashed a thumbs down hand gesture after hitting his home run, while running the bases and also as he stepped on home plate. On Wednesday, he denied that the gesture meant anything and wouldn’t say if it was directed at anyone. It could very well have been a gesture aimed at the critics and to those who’ve been doubting his hustle and effort.

“We all find our own ways to be motivated,” Counsell said of Bregman’s internal motivations. “Everybody does that. You can pick all sorts of ways. You can pick the people that love you to motivate you; you can pick the people that doubt you to motivate you. I think we all do both from time to time. Especially those of us that are getting constant feedback on our performance. When you get constant feedback on your performance, you toggle between picking between the lovers and the haters and who’s motivating you.”

Whatever the reason behind the flat offensive performance, the Cubs will need Bregman to step up and figure things out. After this season, he still has four more years with the team.

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The Chicago Cubs are suddenly rolling, as evidenced by their 23-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The Cubs have gone 15-4 over their last 19 games to improve to 49-38 on the year, somewhat erasing the memory of a brutal 7-22 stretch prior.

It should now be abundantly clear that the Cubs will be buyers at the MLB trade deadline, and it’s very obvious what Chicago needs.

The Cubs’ starting rotation is an absolute mess, as it has been ravaged by injuries and has simply underwhelmed as a whole. Jed Hoyer did recently swing a trade to acquire David Peterson from the New York Mets, but Chicago will need more than that.

Fortunately, the Cubs have until Aug. 3 to make some moves, and their recent hot streak has bought them some more time in that regard.

But could Chicago be in some trouble when it comes to acquiring a frontline pitcher? ESPN’s David Schoenfield thinks so.

Chicago Cubs could face difficulty at MLB trade deadline

Schoenfield recently ran a piece on what every team should do before the deadline, and for the Cubs, making a push for Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta was at the top of the list.

Peralta is widely viewed as a trade candidate in the coming weeks, and Chicago has long been floated as a potential destination. But could the Cubs swing even bigger and attempt to pry Tarik Skubal away from the Detroit Tigers?

Schoenfield thinks it’s a possibility, but he isn’t counting on it.

“The Cubs have run hot and cold all season — they’ve had winning streaks of 10 and 11 games, a 10-game losing streak and now a 9-1 run — so another seasoned starter is key. They could be in the mix for Skubal as well, although the Brewers, Dodgers and Rays have an edge in farm system quality,” Schoenfield wrote.

This goes beyond Skubal, too. Because there aren’t many teams willing to sell at the moment, the list of available quality starters before the deadline could be rather short. That means the competition will be fiercer, which could result in Chicago losing out.

The Cubs still have some intriguing pieces, but guys like Jaxon Wiggins, Moises Ballesteros and Kevin Alcantara have lost some of their luster. And let’s remember that Chicago already moved Owen Caissie — who has been on a tear lately — for Edward Cabrera over the winter.

There is no doubt that the Cubs will be in the mix for starting pitching, but they may have some difficulty getting what they want.

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The Chicago Cubs have won five games in a row and nine of their last ten as they have finally started to look like the contenders most everyone thought they would be in 2026. Earlier this year, they had two different 10-game winnings streaks, but those were nearly forgotten after a terrible month of May and a 10-game losing streak.

Throughout it all, manager Craig Counsell decided to stick with Dansby Swanson nearly every day at shortstop. Up until recently, the Gold Glover was struggling mightily at the plate, unable to keep his batting average above the Mendoza Line.

Lately, though, Swanson has put on an offensive display that is rivaled by very few in the annals of Major League history.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has been making Major League Baseball history

On Wednesday, the Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 23-3. They tied a franchise record with eight home runs, three of which were hit by Swanson. On Tuesday, he had hit two home runs, meaning he has back-to-back multi-home run games.

In fact, the recent stretch Swanson has been on has put him in some pretty exclusive company:

The only shortstops in MLB history with 8+ HR and 25+ RBI in a 13-game span:

2010 Troy Tulowitzki: 13 HR | 29 HR
2026 Dansby Swanson: 8 HR | 25 RBI

A HISTORIC hot stretch for Dansby pic.twitter.com/Yeb6CruyZ9

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 1, 2026

As one can see, Swanson has eight home runs and 25 RBI in his last 13 games. The only shortstop in Major League Baseball history to have matched that feat was Troy Tulowitzki.

Swanson’s recent hot stretch has greatly improved his overall stat line for the season. He is now hitting .210/.300/.431 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki made history on Wednesday
• Cubs announce positive injury update on Jameson Taillon
• Dansby Swanson climbs into top-5 on NL shortstop home run list

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The calendar has turned, and the All-Star break is now within reach. For Cubs fans, the focus shifts toward what actually matters over the final months, as the season moves beyond early impressions and into a period that promises to be even more revealing.

The second half brings a different lens. Attention turns to pitching stability, trade decisions, divisional matchups, and key performances that shape outcomes. These are the details that define not just how the Cubs play, but where they’re ultimately headed.

The Starting Pitching Survival Act

The rotation no longer carries the same identity it had in April. Injuries have stripped it down to something far more fragile, forcing the Cubs into a nightly balancing act. Stability, not dominance, has become the goal.

Shota Imanaga now sits at the center of everything. Each outing carries added weight, not just in terms of results but for how deep he can go. Pitch counts offer clues, but the fifth inning often reveals more, especially when an early hook suggests something beyond matchups.

Veterans like Matthew Boyd, along with David Peterson and Bryse Wilson aren’t expected to take over games. They’re there to hold things together, shifting the focus from strikeouts to simply covering innings and easing pressure on the bullpen

Watch the velocity late in outings. Watch the tempo. There are moments when a pitcher looks fine on paper but feels different from inning to inning. That’s where the strain shows up first.

Trade Deadline Strategy: Will The Cubs Buy Big?

The Cubs sit in a familiar, uneasy spot. Good enough to matter, yet incomplete enough to hesitate. The trade deadline won’t just offer solutions, it’ll force clarity about what this team is.

Why the Cubs Are in a Difficult Position

Contending teams usually have a clearer identity by this point, but Chicago still feels unsettled. The offense has produced timely late-game wins, but the club still shows some inconsistency at the plate, while rotation concerns remain a continuing issue.

The Cost of Adding Pitching

Any meaningful upgrade will require something real in return. Prospects like Kevin Alcantara or Moisés Ballesteros aren’t just names. They represent future stability, something the organization has worked carefully to build.

Trading from that pool for short-term help is never just about 2026 or immediate postseason positioning this year. It’s about how much uncertainty you’re willing to accept later.

The Moves That Will Signal Intent

Timing will say a lot. Early moves may suggest urgency, while waiting until the final days could reflect caution or patience with the market. The type of addition matters just as much, as depth pieces carry a different impact than a front-line arm.

Seiya Suzuki’s situation quietly sits alongside all of this. Not as the headline, but as a signal. Teams reveal their intentions through these kinds of decisions, often without saying much at all.

The NL Central Dogfight

Milwaukee has opened up some separation at the top, but the division remains close enough that the race is still very much in play, which is what makes the next two months feel different as the postseason race begins to tighten. Every series carries weight, even those that don’t immediately stand out on the schedule.

Milwaukee remains steady as the current leader to chase, while St. Louis stays close enough to consistently apply pressure. The standings can shift quickly, and even a short stretch of results against a division rival can reshape both position and perception.

That tension shows up in a few key ways:

• Head-to-head series become the real battleground,
• Tiebreakers start to feel less theoretical,
• Momentum can change within a single homestand.

Fans often track these swings through standings and performance trends, but broader context shapes how the race is viewed. Many also follow matchups, player trends, and daily lines through MLB betting, using those shifts to gauge how the division race evolves in real time.

“Cardiac Cubs” and Counsell’s Late-Inning Magic

Some teams win comfortably. This one rarely does. The Cubs have leaned on late-game resilience, turning tight situations into wins often enough to stay relevant. It’s entertaining and often tense, but not something that easily holds over a full season.

Craig Counsell has managed this stretch with controlled urgency, adjusting matchups quickly and shifting bullpen roles without hesitation. The approach works, though it leaves little room for error. Over time, those decisions begin to carry more weight.

The bullpen often tells the deeper story. Not just in saves or blown leads, but in quieter signs like eighth-inning walks, repeated appearances, or slight dips in command. Those moments tend to surface before anything obvious changes, as the margin slowly tightens.

The $175 Million Alex Bregman Conundrum

Expectations don’t disappear just because production hasn’t matched them. If anything, they become more noticeable, especially as the season moves into a more defined stretch.

Bregman’s season has settled into an uneasy middle ground. Not disastrous, but still well short of what the Cubs envisioned. The power hasn’t been consistent, and run production has come in shorter, less reliable bursts across recent games played.

It’s easy to focus on the numbers, but the more telling detail is how the ball is coming off his bat. Lower launch angle and less authoritative contact in key spots can point to underlying batted-ball patterns that still need adjustment.

How These Storylines Converge Down the Stretch

None of this stays separate for long. That’s what the second half tends to reveal, as issues begin to overlap and influence each other in ways that aren’t always obvious at first. Small shifts in one area often carry into others without much warning.

Short starts lead to heavier bullpen usage, which affects late-game reliability. A trade might stabilize one part of the rotation, or simply shift pressure elsewhere. The divisional race makes every weakness more visible and harder to hide.

Offense plays into it as well. When scoring comes easily, pitching gaps feel manageable. When it doesn’t, everything tightens, and one-run games carry more weight. Fans often look beyond results, using tools like comprehensive MLB Team overviews to track how teams evolve and address the issues they face.

A Season Still Waiting for Definition

The second half rarely offers clear answers. More often, it sharpens the questions around consistency, depth, and resilience. The Cubs remain firmly in the race, but not in a way that feels fully settled.

That tension defines what comes next in the division race. A few breaks in the right areas can shift momentum quickly, while continued inconsistency can narrow the margin just as fast, leaving little room for error as the season moves forward.

The post What Cubs Fans Should Watch During the Second Half of the Season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There were plenty of storylines to follow in the Cubs’ 23-3 drubbing of the Padres at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. While arguably the brightest spotlight was on Dansby Swanson for his first-career three-homer game, it was Seiya Suzuki who made history.

In the first inning, Suzuki hit a three-run shot deep into the left-center bleachers. It was Suzuki’s 100th career home run, making him the fourth Japanese-born player to reach the 100-homer mark in the Majors. He joins Shohei Ohtani, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro in that club. He also became the 27th Cub to reach the 100+ home run club.

SAVE THAT BASEBALL!

Seiya crushes career home run No. 100! pic.twitter.com/qYOhC1u6lS

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 1, 2026

An impressive feat for Seiya Suzuki

The Cubs signed Suzuki out of Japan before the 2022 season on a five-year, $85 million deal. He’s made between $18-$21 million a year since 2023. It has turned out to be a great deal, with 100 homers, a .269/.347/.471 slash, and an .818 OPS so far in 603 games.

As of July 1st, 2026, there have been 62 Japanese-born players who have taken an at bat in the Major Leagues all-time. 13 of them had at least 1,000 at bats. For Suzuki to be one of just four at this point to hit 100+ homers is a remarkable feat. He is also in the top five all-time among Japanese-born players in slugging and RBI (338). The only Japanese-born hitter with a higher slug than Suzuki with at least 500 MLB games played is Ohtani.

It is a bit crazy to think Suzuki has yet to make an All Star team. It feels like he is just on the outside looking in at the “legit star” bubble as a hitter. He will put up some darn good numbers. But his rough in-season slumps prevent him from crossing that “legit star” line. Though the line is arbitrary, he’s come up just inches short of the 140+ wRC+ and .850+ OPS marks that one could argue are the threshold.

Nonetheless, what Suzuki has accomplished as a player has been so good, and it should be revered. All Star or not.

The post Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki makes history on Wednesday appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There might not be a team in Major League Baseball that has had worse luck with injuries to their starting pitchers than the Chicago Cubs. Already in 2026, Cade Horton has been ruled out for the rest of the season, and Justin Steele will pitch out of the bullpen if he even gets healthy enough towards the end of the year.

In addition to these two, multiple other starting pitchers have been forced to spend one or more stints on the injured list with any variety of ailments. Fortunately, Chicago has been able to weather these and sit only 5.5 games back of first place in the National League Central Division.

That being said, if they are to make up some ground in the second half, they need a healthy starting rotation.

Chicago Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon is nearing his return

One of the pitchers that has been dealing with injury is Jameson Taillon. He is currently on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring strain. Fortunately, he is about to make his next rehab start and will bre returning to the starting rotation soon:

Some Cubs pitching notes, per Craig Counsell today:

-Jameson Taillon scheduled for rehab with Triple-A on Sunday

-Javier Assad will make another start before All-Star Break

-Bryse Wilson expected to serve in long relief role

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) July 1, 2026

As one can see from the post above, Chicago has also made some decisions on two of their current healthy pitchers. Javier Assad, who has had an up-and-down year, will make one more start before the All-Star Break. Newly acquired pitcher Bryse Wilson will serve in a long relief role.

Taillon has not had the best season in 2026 when healthy. He is currently just 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 13 starts. Once he returns, the Cubs obviously hope he can get back to 2024 and 2025 form when he had sub-4.00 ERA’s.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs top trade target has come off the board
• Is Nico Hoerner back to being Nico Hoerner?
• Alex Bregman gets test over lack of hustle criticism

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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For much of the first three months of the season, there was not a position player in baseball colder at the plate that Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. Unfortunately, his run of poor offense also coincided with those of several other Chicago hitters. These struggles, combined with the numerous injuries suffered by the pitching staff, led to a real rough stretch of baseball.

But Swanson has suddenly found his swing. On Tuesday night, he belted two home runs in the Cubs’ 9-7 win over the San Diego Padres, and put himself into the top-five on an all-time list.

Chicago Cubs star Dansby Swanson now is top-five all time for home runs by a shortstop (National League)

Swanson’s two home runs gave him 13 on the season. During the game last night, it was shown that his career total of home runs while playing shortstop is now the fifth-most in the entire history of the National League:

Pretty wild that Dansby Swanson is Top 5 in NL history in home runs as a SS pic.twitter.com/XeW08mQLrm

— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) July 1, 2026

Of Sanswon’s 177 career home runs, 176 of them have come while he was playing shortstop.

The Cubs shortstop had a horrible month of May, hitting just .151/.233/.215 and a single home run. These struggles carried over into June for a while, but he has really turned it on at the plate as of late.

Over the last two weeks, Swanson is hitting .340/.373/.830 with six home runs and 21 RBI. For the month of June, he hit .247/.301/.541.

His improvement over the last couple of weeks has helped raise his season averages to .203/.296/.396 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI. If he continues to hit around .240-.250 for the rest of the season, he has the potential for a 30-home run and 100-RBI campaign, something he has never achieved.

Swanson’s career high for home runs in a season is 27 (2021 with Atlanta) and his career high in RBI is 96 (2022, also with Atlanta).

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs improved to 48-38 on the season with their 9-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. It was their fourth consecutive win and allowed them to remain 5.5 games out of first place in the National League Central Division.

Tuesday night’s victory also saw multiple Cubs players hit home runs, including two from the suddenly red-hot Dansby Swanson. But it was Pete Crow Armstrong’s blast in the sixth inning that put him on a very exclusive list among some of the franchise’s most revered legends.

Pete Crow-Armstrong puts himself in Chicago Cubs history again

On Tuesday night, Crow-Armstrong hit a solo home run in bottom of the sixth inning, which was his 11th bomb of the month of June. This blast put him in some pretty exclusive company among Cubs legends:

The 11 HR joins Ernie Banks (13 in July 1955) and Kris Bryant (11 in June 2016) as the only Cubs player age 24-or-younger with more than 10 HR in a calendar month. https://t.co/tyvwFgJA7K

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) July 1, 2026

As one can see from the post above, only Ernie Banks and Kris Bryant hit more than 10 home runs in a month while they were 24 years old or younger.

On the season, Crow-Armstrong is now hitting .284/.373/.515 with 18 home runs, 46 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He got off to a horribly slow start to the season, and at one point was relegated to ninth in the batting order.

In March/April, he hit just .241/.307/.362 with three home runs and 13 RBI. May saw him struggle as well, as he hit .233/.344/.417 with four home runs and 13 RBI. But June saw Crow-Armstrong snap out of his funk in convincing fashion, as he hit .381/.468/.781 with 11 home runs and 20 RBI.

At this point, he almost will assuredly be a National League All-Star again. Hopefully he can avoid the late-season slide that he suffered last year in the second half.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs top trade target has come off the board
• Is Nico Hoerner back to being Nico Hoerner?
• Alex Bregman gets test over lack of hustle criticism

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs seem to have righted the ship, as they have now won 14 of their last 18 games after an absolutely miserable stretch. Still, it’s blatantly obvious that the Cubs have plenty of work to do if they want to snag a playoff spot.

Chicago has needs all over its roster, but its primary area of concern is its starting rotation.

The Cubs’ pitching staff has been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, and the arms who have been healthy have not exactly pitched up to par.

On the bright side, Chicago still has plenty of time to make a move. The MLB trade deadline is on Aug. 3, and there should be some viable hurlers available. Heck, the Cubs already picked one up by acquiring David Peterson from the New York Mets.

However, one name that has regularly been linked to Chicago since last summer probably won’t be on the block at this point: Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara.

Chicago Cubs probably won’t be landing Sandy Alcantara

In case you missed it, the Marlins are really good. Miami went 20-6 in the month of June, good for the best mark in baseball. What’s more, Alcantara went 6-0 with a 3.35 ERA during that span, managing a 1.190 WHIP.

The Marlins have been known to trade some of their top names by the deadline, but they probably won’t be doing so this time around considering they are firmly in playoff contention.

Alcantara was certainly someone on the Cubs’ radar, and that has been the case since last year. Remember: Chicago talked to Miami about both Alcantara and Edward Cabrera at the 2025 deadline, but didn’t acquire either of them at the time. The Cubs did, however, swing a trade for Cabrera during the offseason.

Since the early stages of 2026, Alcantara has continued being linked to Chicago, especially with all of the injuries that have befallen the Cubs’ rotation. Alcantara is making $17.3 million this season and carries a $21 million club option for 2027, so he has always been a very enticing target.

But while a whole lot can happen over the next four weeks, it doesn’t appear that the Marlins will be all that eager to trade the former Cy Young award winner.

The post Chicago Cubs’ top trade target has come off the board appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs opened up their pocketbooks this past year in hopes of not only making a deep postseason run in 2026, but also in securing the core of a winning team for the future.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Bregman gets testy over lack of hustle criticism

They signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a 5-year, $175 million contract. They also signed four veteran free agent relievers to restock a depleted bullpen. While it can be debated how well those signings have turned out, the spending did prove that the Cubs front office was serious about building something good.

The team also spent money on retaining two young, key components to the Cubs’ future via extension. They extended center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong with a 6-year, $115 million deal and also Nico Hoerner with a 6-year deal worth $141 million.

The pair of extended 20-somethings have had their ups and down this season. Crow-Armstrong, for example, started off the year slowly, but then went absolutely bonkers with production for a good long stretch. Meanwhile, Hoerner, who started red-hot, stalled in offensive production almost completely from early May until fairly recently.

And while Crow-Armstrong is a notoriously streaky hitter, Hoerner has been the picture of consistency throughout his major league career, with an elite-level contact-hitting approach and a batting average that has stayed within the .270s to .290s range.

Nico Hoerner’s fall and (recent) rise

More News: Chicago Cubs: Sonny Gray AND Aroldis Chapman in one wildly bold trade?

As of mid-June, the Cubs veteran was hitting .233 and struggling in all aspects of his offensive game.

However, there’s reason to believe that the veteran Cub is starting to come out of his extended funk. Over his last ten games, he’s hitting .317 and while that’s a very small sample size, it should be noted that he’s starting to make more significant contact, reminiscent of his prime self.

Some have theorized that a behind-the-scenes focus on improving his power-hitting game adversely affected his hitting approach. Cubs manager Craig Counsell hinted at a possible tweak when the announcement was first made that Hoerner had been extended.

Fixing what’s not broken?

“Nico can grow. I think Nico can be better,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And I really am optimistic he’s going to be better. Nico’s skill-set, Nico’s going to make contact. I think Nico still has the ability to drive the ball a little more, and that’s in a good place and really ready to show up.”

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer also echoed the “Nico can be even better” sentiment at the time of his extension.

“Whenever you make this kind of investment in a player,” Hoyer noted, “you want to invest in someone that you know is going to keep trying to get better every day. You want to invest in someone that’s going to be a great teammate. And Nico has all those things. Super easy decision for us.”

Whatever the case, the Cubs need Hoerner to be Hoerner. If a shot at a few extra home runs a season costs them one of the best contact hitters in the game, the trade-off isn’t worth it. The defense and the gumption will always be there, but Chicago also needs the hitting tools Hoerner can give them at his very best.

Maybe Nico and everyone around him have come to that realization and the new Nico can go back to being more like the old Nico.

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The Chicago Cubs are on a nice 7-1 run, not too long after an ugly month-long stretch of bad baseball that saw them go 7-22. With back-to-back thrilling wins over the Brewers and Padres, there’s a lot to be happy about.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Sonny Gray AND Aroldis Chapman in one wildly bold trade?

But there are still some dark clouds lurking around the silver linings right now.

One of them is Alex Bregman. Specifically, it was Bregman’s lack of hustle on a sixth-inning ground ball Sunday at Milwaukee’s American Family Field, with the Cubs trailing 1-0. Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt bobbled the ball before throwing to first, giving Bregman a chance to beat out the play. Bregman didn’t break into a full sprint until he saw the miscue, but by then it was too late. Had he run hard out of the box from the start, he likely would’ve been safe.

The flat effort was enough to attract the attention of Cubs color commentator and former MLB pitcher Jim Deshaies.

“You don’t have to try to win an Olympic medal every time you go down the first-base line,” Deshaies commented, in an on-air moment that would become viral. “But you need to go a little harder than that.”

The effort didn’t sit well with a lot of Cubs fans who’ve already been bemoaning the lack of clutch hitting and power from the veteran third baseman, who was signed by the team to a 5-year, $175 million contract in the offseason.

Bregman gets testy

More News: Chicago Cubs: Another pitcher on the IL, another obstacle to deal with

On Monday, back at Wrigley Field, Bregman was asked whether he regretted not running harder to first base the day prior. The three-time All-Star responded in an uncharacteristically testy manner.

“Yes, and I’ve also had 10 soft tissue injuries running down the first-base line specifically. So it’s kind of some give-and-take. But at the same time, yeah, I obviously wish I would have beat the throw.”

When asked whether his response was coming from a place of frustration, he offered a terse counter.

“No,” Bregman said. “It’s just what I said.”

A little bit later in the same scrum, when asked what he was working on, he’d dip into some sarcasm for the response.

“What’s your guess?” Bregman said, laughing. “Uh, hitting the baseball.”

“Just being in a consistent spot to be able to hit the ball hard in the air,” Bregman continued. “Get back to swinging at pitches that I want to hit. And not swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. Basically, the same stuff. Swing at pitches that I can drive, and take pitches that I can’t. Hone it in. Be better.”

Frustration all around

Much had been made about Bregman’s penchant for slow starts, but as the team heads into July, there’s really no more justification for a wait-and-see philosophy on Bregman’s offensive issues. He’s currently hitting .242 with just 6 home runs and 27 RBIs, which puts him on a pace to finish the season with 12 homers and 55 runs batted in.

Although he’s been lauded for his defense and his clubhouse leadership qualities, the Cubs—and their fans—were expecting much more of a multi-faceted impact player than what they’ve gotten so far.

And it would appear that frustration is bubbling up all around.

The post Chicago Cubs: Bregman gets testy over lack of hustle criticism appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When the Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract in free agency, there were many who felt they overpaid for the third baseman. Three months into his debut campaign with the Cubs, and those people look like they have been proven correct.

Bregman is slashing just .242/.339/.337 with six home runs and 27 RBI over 380 plate appearances thus far in 2026, and while he has been terrific defensively, Chicago signed up for more than just a slick glove.

To make matters worse, Bregman was seen not hustling down the line during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, which actually cost the Cubs a baserunner. Fans were already frustrated Bregman for his lack of production at the plate, so dogging it down the first-base line was enough to send them into a frenzy.

It certainly hasn’t been an easy year for Bregman in Chicago, and it has many regretting the fact that the Cubs added him over the winter.

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib feels Bregman might need a reset and is urging the team to make one specific move to make that happen.

Chicago Cubs urged to make this Alex Bregman move

Earlier in the season, the Cubs rested slumping hitters Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson, and the results were positive. Campbell thinks Craig Counsell should employ the same strategy with Bregman.

“Given what happened on Sunday, the timing does appear right for Craig Counsell to give Bregman a couple of days off to reset,” Campbell wrote. “He did so earlier this season with Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson, and each had offensive hot streaks since. The Cubs need Bregman to be a part of the team’s offensive success, especially if their scoring runs consistently is what will carry them through the pitching injuries.”

Bregman was one of the top offensive threats in baseball earlier in his career with the Houston Astros, particularly in 2019 when he slashed .296/.423/.592 with 41 homers and 112 RBI, finishing second in AL MVP voting.

The 32-year-old hasn’t come close to achieving that production since, but there is no doubt that 2026 has been the worst year of his career. Last season with the Boston Red Sox, for example, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 long balls and 62 RBI across 495 trips to the dish, earning himself an All-Star appearance.

The Cubs thought they were at least getting that version of Bregman, but they have clearly gotten a much more disappointing variant.

The post Cubs urged to make curious Alex Bregman move that just might work appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There may not be a team in Major League Baseball more plagued by injuries to significant players than the Chicago Cubs. The majority of these, of course, have been suffered by the starting rotation. Currently, the Cubs have no less than four of the preferred starters on the injured list. What is more, they also have a couple back-end bullpen pitchers sidelined as well.

Despite these injuries, Chicago has been able to stay afloat in the National League Central Division. Over the weekend, they took two out of three games from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, and currently sit 5.5 games back in second place.

Unfortunately, their weekend victories came at a cost.

The Chicago Cubs have placed Matt Shaw and Ethan Roberts on the IL

While the Cubs were able to take two out of three games against the team that has plagued them the most over the last three seasons, they now are going forward without two more players: Matt Shaw and Ethan Roberts.

On Monday afternoon, it was reported that both of them are going on the injured list:

Another day, another injury update from the Cubs: Matt Shaw (left hand sprain) and Ethan Roberts (right forearm inflammation) are now on the IL. Kevin Alcántara and Gavin Hollowell have been recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) June 29, 2026

Shaw is going on the injured list with a right hand sprain. He is hitting .246/.322/.415 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 56 games played. Kevin Alcantara is taking his place on the active roster for the time being.

Roberts has right forearm inflammation. He is 0-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 23 appearances this season. Gavin Hollowell is taking his place in the bullpen.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Could the Cubs nab both Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman at the MLB trade deadline?
• Cubs could trade Moises Ballesteros under 1 condition
• Cubs place Hoby Milner on IL in wake of injury plague

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs managed to hold on for dear life Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field and cinch a series win.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Another pitcher on the IL, another obstacle to deal with

In a bullpen game that was started by Ryan Rolison and ended by a cross-your-fingers Jordan Wicks, who came in with the bases loaded and no outs in the tenth inning, holding on to a 4-3 win felt like a World Series Game 7 victory.

But, realistically, the law of averages says that the Cubs can’t keep the spinning plates on the sticks forever and that, sooner or later, there will be lots of loud crashes.

Hoyer’s daunting shopping list

More News: Chicago Cubs: Update on Ben Brown doesn’t sound good at all

That’s why the August 3 trade deadline is of extreme importance when it comes to the team’s chances of even getting to the postseason.

The beleaguered starting rotation is, rightfully, getting most of the attention. They are, after all, currently minus three of their five projected starters at the start of the season (Taillon, Cabrera, Horton) and two of those counted as depth pieces (Brown, Steele).

But the bullpen also needs some serious attention.

Currently on the shelf are closer Daniel Palencia, as well as three of the four incoming free agents signed by the team to make up the bulk of the high-leverage relief appearances (Maton, Milner, Harvey). And per the most recent report, Palencia’s return is not even on the table until some point after the All-Star break.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will have a pretty stressful shopping list come deadline.

Ryan O’Rourke of Cubbies Crib recently introduced the idea of a possible one-stop shopping spot for the Cubs—the Boston Red Sox.

Gray AND Chapman to the Cubs?

Specifically, the idea of possibly targeting starter Sonny Gray and former Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman in a package deal was mentioned:

“It would be costly, but one option to kill two birds with one stone might be to approach the Red Sox for a package deal with Aroldis Chapman and Sonny Gray, giving the Cubs a solid rental starter and an old friend who’s still pitching like one of the best relievers in the sport with a 1.90 ERA. Chapman’s also likely to hit his $13 million vesting option, meaning they’d have him for another year at a reasonable cost.”

Well, that’s certainly not a two-man haul Chicago should immediately rule out, especially considering their needs.

The Cubs could very well be dealing a good chunk of prospect capital for what could be a pair of three-month rentals (both Gray and Chapman—if Chapman qualifies for his vesting option—would be in a mutual option situation that would probably see both opt for free agency).

But what they could provide to the team in the final stretch of the 2026 season could be a serious difference-maker.

Gray is a legit front-of-rotation ace who is pitching like an ace this season with a 9-1 record and a 2.69 ERA for a very bad Red Sox team. Chapman, meanwhile, is still throwing fire at 38 years of age, currently posting a 2.19 ERA with 16 saves over 26 appearances. Aside from providing support to Palencia, it would just be kind of cool to have a key component of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series team back on the squad.

The cost of such a deal would be high. Matt Shaw could likely be part of the deal, as well as a top Triple-A prospect or two, and some lower-level young talent.

So, would trading away Shaw, Moises Ballesteros/Jefferson Rojas, and a pair of high-end A-ball assets be worth a rental of Gray and Chapman? It might be, if the Cubs feel they have a real chance of doing something big in the postseason.

The post Chicago Cubs: Sonny Gray AND Aroldis Chapman in one wildly bold trade? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been playing much better baseball of late, having won 12 of their last 16 games to re-establish themselves as serious National League playoff contenders and to make it clear that they will almost certainly be buyers before the MLB trade deadline.

While the Cubs have been winning games, it’s clear that this team still has a plethora of issues, and the starting rotation is the most obvious of all.

Chicago’s pitching staff has been ravaged by injuries, and the arms that have been able to stay healthy haven’t exactly pitched up to par.

The general expectation is that the Cubs will add at least one more pitcher between now and Aug. 3, and they already got a head start on it by swinging a deal with the New York Mets to acquire left-hander David Peterson last week.

Chicago would surely likely a more impactful hurler than Peterson, though, and the good news is that there should be some interesting names available in the coming weeks. But is it possible the Cubs would part ways with Moises Ballesteros to make that happen? Perhaps, under one condition.

Chicago Cubs could trade Moises Ballesteros in this scenario

Ballesteros got off to a tremendous start with Chicago this season, slashing .338/.392/.620 with five home runs and 16 RBI between March and April before a dreadful May and half of June resulted in the slugger being demoted back to Triple-A.

The Cubs still clearly have high hopes for Ballesteros moving forward, as they should. While he certainly isn’t a great defensive catcher, his bat has sky-high potential, as he has displayed for many years within Chicago’s organization.

But Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib feels there is one scenario in which the Cubs may be willing to send Ballesteros packing.

“Generally, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs being willing to give up on Ballesteros. Even with his demotion to Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs remain sold on the potential of his bat. But if there’s a chance that Ballesteros is the key prospect to be included in a deal for someone like Logan Webb or Joe Ryan, it’s hard to imagine the young catcher being completely off the table,” Campbell wrote.

Webb and Ryan are viewed as two of the top potential pitchers who could be moved before the trade deadline, and you would have to imagine the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins, respectively, would ask for Ballesteros in a possible return.

Chicago does have other pieces like Kevin Alcantara and Pedro Ramirez who could be involved in trade packages, as well, but if the Giants or Twins insist on Ballesteros, the Cubs may just have to bite the bullet and get it done.

The post Chicago Cubs could trade Moises Ballesteros under one condition appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are returning home after a long road trip which saw them play seven games in six days. Chicago began last week in New York to face the Mets in a four-game series. That would serve to be the appetizer before a big three-game series in Milwaukee for the weekend.

And it proved to be a good appetizer.

Chicago was able to sweep the four-game series from the Mets, including a double-header on Wednesday. They did so with good pitching and more importantly, good hitting. That included Dansby Swanson recording 15 RBI’s in the series alone. From there, the Cubs went to Milwaukee and while they lost game one on Friday, they were able to win the series.

This could be the boost of confidence they needed.

Chicago Cubs head home with “boost of confidence”

The 6-1 road trip including winning two of three against Milwaukee have moved the Cubs back into second place in the NL Central. They are 5.5 games behind the Brewers going into this week.

But if this weekend showed us anything, it’s that the Cubs can beat the Brewers. Chicago fell behind 1-0 in Sunday’s game but rallied to tie it and then win it in extra innings. Holding a 4-3 lead and Milwaukee loading the bases with no outs, the Cubs escaped the jam to win the series. Now, they are hoping this gives them a boost in confidence.

“For us to come out of this road trip 6-1 is a huge confidence boost,” Jordan Wicks said after the game on Sunday. “I think it says a lot about not only the people in this clubhouse but our organization as a whole.”

"For us to come out of this road trip 6-1 is a huge confidence boost. I think it says a lot about not only the people in this clubhouse but our organization as a whole."

The Cubs are heading into their homestand with added confidence pic.twitter.com/cvyk6fpw6u

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 28, 2026

The Cubs at one point had the best record in the national league in May. But since that point, they have struggled including facing a 10-game losing streak.

Now, Chicago heads home to Wrigley Field as the month of July approaches. They will host the San Diego Padres for a three-game series on Monday and then the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday for another three-game series. With the All-Star break approaching, it’s crucial the Cubs build on this momentum.

The post Successful road trip with series win in Milwaukee giving Chicago Cubs a ‘boost of confidence’ appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Alex Bregman has to feel relieved that he and his team won that insane game in Milwaukee on Sunday. While the main story was the Houdini act by Jordan Wicks to preserve a 4-3 Cubs win in 10, Bregman got himself into hot water in the middle of the game.

Bregman continues to struggle to produce at the plate, slashing .239/.336/.335 with just 27 RBI. The numbers have been frustrating enough, but his failure to beat out a bobbled grounder at short in the top of the sixth by not running hard out of the box rightfully set the fanbase off. It was even called out on the Cubs TV broadcast.

Alex Bregman could have been safe after the Brewers bobbled the ball but he didn’t run out of the box hard pic.twitter.com/uJoLpPXcZ5

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 28, 2026

Alex Bregman’s slow effort won’t go unnoticed

First and foremost, this is not an indictment that Bregman does not care or has not put forth any effort as a Cub. He’s clearly frustrated by his struggles and wants nothing more than to produce like himself again. With that said, Sunday’s incident was a bad look, and he knows that.

Looking back at the play, this was a slow bouncer that required Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt to range slightly in and towards the middle and fire to first. It was fairly routine, and Bregman is not a speed demon. In a tight game though, 90 should be respected to the fullest. That quick bobble should have cost Pratt getting Bregman at first.

“You don’t have to try to win an Olympic medal every time you go down the first base line,” said Marquee color analyst Jim DeShaies on the broadcast. “You need to go a little harder than that.”

Unacceptable from Bregman, especially given his contract and veteran status on this team. Can’t happen https://t.co/BPyBpwLBK4

— Jacob Zanolla (@jacobzanolla) June 28, 2026

Going to the game tomorrow. I’ll be the guy booing Alex Bregman every time his name is mentioned

— CubsMuse (@CubsMuse) June 28, 2026

Why did Bregman just jog to first with no effort?

Absolutely atrocious watching this guy every AB.

35 million a year for nothing. #cubs

— Beardenlive (@beardenlive) June 28, 2026

At the end of the day, Bregman is being paid big money to be the leader and Alpha. It’s one thing to have a lapse in a game. But when a player is under that big a spotlight and has struggled to live up to expectations so far, these things cannot happen.

He did draw a key walk in the 10th and started the game-ending double play. But it’s still not something you want to see from your $175 million man with a sub-100 wRC+ in late June.

The post Chicago Cubs fan frustration with Alex Bregman hits boiling point appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs, at this point, probably can’t help but shrug their shoulders and brace for the next pitching injury to pop up.

More News: Chicago Cubs: Update on Ben Brown doesn’t sound good at all

Early Saturday morning, reliever Hoby Milner had an emergency appendectomy that will keep him out of commission for four to six weeks, according to the team.

“He woke up in the middle of the night and had major stomach pain,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell informed reporters prior to Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. “Actually Uber-ed himself to the emergency room and then had surgery this morning.”

The sidearm southpaw has been one of the more reliable relief arms in a banged up bullpen since coming to the team on a one-year, $3.75 million contract this past offseason. On the season, he’s posted a 3.53 ERA through 35.2 innings pitched, although six of the fourteen earned runs he’s allowed this year came from one horrible outing against the San Francisco on June 5.

Hoby Milner joins the legion of Cubs injured

More News: Chicago Cubs face brutal trade deadline dilemma

Milner now joins closer Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Riley Martin as an on-the-shelf bullpen arm. Among starting pitchers, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Justin Steele are all on the IL as well, with Matthew Boyd just recently returning to the mound after meniscus surgery.

The massive wave of injury—which has essentially wiped out nine of the projected thirteen pitchers on the 26-man roster heading into the season—has forced the Cubs to scour the waiver wire for emergency fill-ins cut loose from other organizations.

The most recent pickups were Bryse Wilson from the Phillies and former Cub Drew Pomeranz from the Angels. But the list of on-the-fly acquisitions expected to contribute has been extremely long.

Chicago also pulled off a trade with the New York Mets on Thursday, acquiring veteran starting pitcher David Peterson for their no. 13 prospect 1B/DH Cole Mathis.

Running out of fill-ins

“The cumulative effect is you just start running out of pitchers in your organization that are ready to go,” Counsell told media. “We have, obviously, bodies. But the quality has to go down. We don’t have that big of a stockpile. I don’t think anybody does. So we’re going to have to get through it. We’ll keep looking for guys that can do the job.”

Needless to say, chances are slim of a team making a championship run with a starting rotation missing 60% of its starters and a bullpen missing almost all of its high-leverage arms.

The Peterson addition was a definite plus—In his debut, he delivered 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs in an 8-2 Cubs win over the Milwaukee Brewers. But there will have to be more and the team will also have to lean heavily into the hope of at least some of their injured pitchers coming back in top form sooner rather than later.

With the August 3 trade deadline still over a month away, the team will probably have to keep on the lookout for more pitching castoffs and hope for a lot of good fortune.

The post Chicago Cubs: Another pitcher on the IL, another obstacle to deal with appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been dealing with a seemingly non-stop barrage of pitching injuries that have diminished expectations of a postseason run dramatically.

More News: Chicago Cubs face brutal trade deadline dilemma

Among the latest and most devastating was the injury to Ben Brown, who had been the team’s top starter since moving into the rotation as an emergency fill-in. On the season, the hard-throwing righty was 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA over 20 total appearances and 68 innings pitched. As a starter, Brown has been especially stellar within a stressed and strained rotation, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.70 ERA over 8 starts.

Last Wednesday, the 26-year-old was placed on the IL with a stress reaction in the neck. Subsequently, manager Craig Counsell told media that he’d be rested completely for at least a month before deciding on a next move. Brown would later confirm that he suffered a partial stress fracture.

The injury is similar to the one that shut down his season in early June of 2024 and, by all accounts, this particular episode is more troubling than the first.

Ben Brown speaks

More News: Chicago Cubs: MLB insider offers brutal reality check on Brown, Cabrera injuries

“I feel worse this time around, but it’s almost like it’s a good thing,” Brown told reporters before Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. “We can figure this out the right way. The MRI and the scans reflected that, too. I’m optimistic. The team’s optimistic.

“The biggest thing is just figuring out how to not let this happen again. Because, ultimately, the bone can heal, I can come back this year, and it all can be great. I can throw some really good innings and contribute to this awesome team. We’re going to go a long way.

“But I want to pitch five years from now. What does that look like? That’s the biggest focus right now: What can we do, practically, to get on top of the curve here?”

Despite the optimism in his words, the reality is a lot less cheery.

Bad news behind a positive spin

According to Brown, the 2024 diagnosis of a benign bone growth (osteoma) in his neck turned out not to be a correct one. So, the task is now to figure out what’s actually causing the recurring neck issue and to fix any of the mechanics that may be causing it.

“There’s a stress on my bone, something in my throw or in my mechanics that’s leading to that,” Brown said. “It’s not a freak injury anymore. There’s something that I’m doing that’s causing it. I’m working night and day to get to the bottom of it. And the people here are, too. As far as career outlook goes, there’s almost like a positivity around that, like: ‘Hey, we might be able to figure this out.’”

An absolute best case scenario sees the young pitcher return in late August after his rest and some rehab work.

Given this most recent update, however, that doesn’t seem likely. An optimistic estimate could be mid-September-ish. A realistic assessment is starting to scream “2027” for when Brown could come back safely with a good chance of maintaining his health.

That’s not a pleasant thought with the 2027 status of injured Cade Horton and Justin Steele already in doubt and the possible loss of free agent starters Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga.

The post Chicago Cubs: Update on Ben Brown doesn’t sound good at all appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have certainly turned things around over the last couple of weeks, having won 11 of their last 15 games to re-establish themselves as serious playoff contenders in the National League.

That being said, the Cubs have gone just 18-26 since their 27-12 start, and they have a plethora of issues up and down the roster that will almost surely prevent the team from making the postseason unless the holes are addressed.

While the starting rotation is certainly the most glaring need for Chicago, the Cubs could also use some help in their bullpen, which ranks 19th in win probability.

There may not be many good arms available right now, but Jed Hoyer has shown a willingness to experiment, as evidenced by his decision to trade for struggling New York Mets pitcher David Peterson last week. So could Hoyer try and go bargain hunting again?

Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has offered an intriguing possibility, naming recently released Athletics reliever Scott Barlow as a candidate for Chicago.

Chicago Cubs urged to sign Scott Barlow

On the surface, Barlow’s 2026 numbers look horrendous. He owns a 6.48 ERA and 6.43 FIP while posting a brutal 1.53 K/BB ratio.

But while it’s entirely possible that the 33-year-old may just be cooked, it’s important to remember that he has been pitching in a bandbox in Sacramento and would strongly benefit from performing in a legitimate major-league ballpark.

Case in point, Barlow has logged a minuscule 1.02 ERA away from home this season, allowing just six hits over 17.2 innings of work. He is even walking far less hitters on the road, having issued only six free passes in his 17 appearances.

Since entering the big leagues with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, Barlow owns a lifetime 3.79 ERA while racking up 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The strikeout number have dipped the last couple of years, but perhaps Barlow can be rejuvenated in a playoff race with the Cubs.

Barlow would be cheap and would be a very low-risk, potentially high-reward option for Chicago. There really is no reason why Hoyer shouldn’t take a small gamble on the veteran, especially considering it could prove to be a fantastic move.

The post Cubs urged to rescue exiled pitcher who might just be a sleeper appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are in a really strange position right now.

They’ve spent the money and acquired the assets that make winning right now and in the immediate future the primary objective. However, they’re also staring down the reality that they will soon have to make decisions on what could amount to a rebuild for 2027 and beyond.

More News: Chicago Cubs hoping for a lifeline from new pitcher set to make his debut Saturday in Milwaukee

At the end of this season, the Cubs could conceivably lose the following veterans to free agency: Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner. Chicago also holds team options on Colin Rea and Jacob Webb.

Realistically, the Cubs could see anywhere between $120 and $130 million coming off the books at the end of the 2026 season.

The team will probably retain at least some of their talent. Rea, for example, should be a no-brainer to bring back, even with his $7.5 million option. There’s also an argument to be made for biting the bullet and re-signing Kelly and either Happ or Suzuki, if not both.

But even making the assumption that the front office will be extra generous in keeping some of their assets, the Cubs stand to lose a good chunk of their core.

Trading for now, as well as the future

More News: Chicago Cubs: MLB insider offers brutal reality check on Brown, Cabrera injuries

Any acquisitions made from this point forward have to serve two duties: Help the Cubs win now and help the Cubs win in the future.

That’s why Cubs president Jed Hoyer and the front office have an extra tough job between now and the August 3 trade deadline. The team simply doesn’t have the prospect capital to waste on three-month rentals. They need to put their tradeable prospects toward players who will be around beyond 2026.

Matt Shaw, who has probably shown that he deserves a shot at one of the corner outfield spots left behind by Happ or Suzuki, is the biggest asset the Cubs have when it comes to trade bait. And he offers their best bet at landing a good, young pitcher for a staff that will be emptied by free agency and also rattled by injury, even well into next season.

Per Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami:

“I actually believe in Matt Shaw more today than I did last season, both offensively and defensively (that wasn’t even his only good defensive play last night). HOWEVER, I think there probably is a scenario in which trading him makes sense, and that’s for the equivalent pitcher version of Shaw on some other team. I don’t know if that actually even exists (would the Red Sox even move Connelly Early or Payton Tolle anymore? I’m not so sure). But if it does, that’s where you have to think about it. The lack of pitching right now might be an injury problem. But next year, it’s an injury problem AND a … a bunch of guys left in free agency problem. Can’t get it all done in the offseason. Just not possible.”

No one should be off-limits

The Cubs shouldn’t be holding any prospect as off-limits. At this point, facing the situation they’re facing, everyone should be on the table if it means, specifically, acquiring pitchers who could actually be healthy and effective contributors for the rest of 2026 and into 2027 and beyond.

Of the pitchers fitting that bill—possibly available at the deadline—are: Logan Webb, Reid Detmers, and Jose Soriano, who are under contract through the 2028 season, and Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcantara, and MacKenzie Gore, who will become free agents at the end of 2027.

Facing the very real possibility that next year’s starting rotation could be manned entirely by health risks coming off injury-ravaged seasons (Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown), Chicago desperately needs some stability in that area. Maybe they might bite the bullet this offseason on one major free agent pitching acquisition, but they’re still going to need more.

If the Cubs are serious about contending beyond this season, they’ll have to make some uncomfortable trade decisions with their young talent. They’ll have to be ready to deal away some of their long-term future for the sake of their more immediate future.

The post Chicago Cubs face brutal trade deadline dilemma appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs threw a counterpunch on Wednesday as they were being peppered with yet another barrage of devastating punches. It wasn’t a haymaker they offered up in return, but it was a spirited enough shot to show they weren’t waiting for the towel to be thrown in.

More News: Chicago Cubs: MLB insider offers brutal reality check on Brown, Cabrera injuries

In a trade for upwardly-mobile 22-year-old prospect Cole Mathis, the Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher David Peterson from the New York Mets.

The soon-to-be 31-year-old Peterson is coming to Chicago after a rougher than rough season so far and a 6.09 ERA to prove it. But he is just one year removed from his first All-Star Game appointment and two season removed from a career year in 2024 where he posted a 2.90 ERA over 21 starts and 121 innings.

He’s set to take the mound Saturday night in his Cubs debut against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.

David Peterson could be just the right addition

More News: Chicago Cubs pitching health watch: Some good news, some horrible news

With the announced injuries of Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown that same day—putting them alongside Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon as starting pitchers on the IL—picking up Peterson feels like a much greater lifeline than, perhaps, it is.

But maybe it could be something bigger than just the acquisition of an emergency fill-in.

The seven-year veteran has a career groundball rate of 51.5% and a 54.2% grounder rate as recently as last season. And now he’ll have an elite-level infield defense behind him rather than that mess he had backing him up in New York.

“It’s huge,” Peterson told reporters of his new defense. “You look at the guys that are around the infield, and the defense as a whole, it’s hard not to be excited about that group. You see statistically they’re at the top of every list.”

Change of scenery

Moving on from the only organization he’s ever known as a pro will be tough, but the change may be the kind of positive that makes up for a little sentimentality—especially as he heads into free agency at the end of this season.

“We all can acknowledge that sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “When things aren’t going well, sometimes a fresh start is something that can kind of reenergize you, refocus you, and hopefully get you to a good place. Hopefully, we can provide that.”

“I do think there is something to that,” Peterson observed. “I’ve seen it with other guys. I’ve seen it with friends in the game where they’re kind of stuck in a rut or stuck in a spot that they’re not necessarily enjoying, and they’ve gone somewhere else and had a lot of success. That’s part of what gives me excitement about this opportunity.”

Ready or not, though, Peterson will be stepping into a Cubs situation where the team desperately needs for him to turn things around and succeed.

Added to the return of the injured Matthew Boyd on Thursday, Peterson’s arrival feels like a much-needed shot of good news in this extended run of Cubs bad pitching luck.

The post Chicago Cubs hoping for a lifeline from new pitcher set to make his debut Saturday in Milwaukee appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have been playing much better baseball of late, having won 10 of their last 14 games to right themselves in the National League playoff picture. However, they have still gone just 17-26 after a 27-12 start, and a litany of problems remain with the club.

While the Cubs have issues from top to bottom, it’s clear that the starting rotation is the team’s most glaring hole, and they are expected to address it between now and the MLB trade deadline.

Chicago got a head start on that by acquiring David Peterson in a deal with the New York Mets earlier this week, but considering that Peterson has an ERA north of 6.00, he is certainly not going to represent a be-all-end-all solution for the Cubs.

Where else could Jed Hoyer turn for pitching help?

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has identified a new potential target for the Cubbies, linking them to a potential trade for Boston Red Sox left-hander Brayan Bello.

Chicago Cubs linked to trade for Brayan Bello

The Cubs’ rotation has been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, and the guys that have been healthy have not exactly pitched well.

If Chicago wants to have any chance of making a deep playoff run, it will have to add multiple starters before Aug. 3, and Rymer feels that Bello could comprise a potential option as the Red Sox continue to struggle.

Of course, Bello hasn’t exactly been lighting it up himself, owning a 6.34 ERA and 1.672 WHIP over 12 appearances and eight starts, which resulted in Boston optioning him to Triple-A. The numbers, however, are a bit skewed.

Bello has had two horrendous outings that ballooned his ERA. But he actually has also been dominant for a good portion of the season. In May, for example, Bello allowed one run or less in four of his five starts, going seven innings in two of them. But he also had some moments where he couldn’t get an out.

The 27-year-old owns a lifetime 4.32 ERA and 1.392 WHIP, and like Peterson, his ground-ball rate (career 52.3 percent) should play well with the Cubs’ slick infield defense.

Bello is also under team control through 2029, so he could comprise a sneaky-good addition for Chicago.

The post Chicago Cubs linked to new trade for erratic pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There may not be a team in Major League Baseball that has more bad luck with injuries than the Chicago Cubs. Specifically, to their pitching staff. Ever since before the season began, Chicago had injury concerns among their pitchers.

And ever since the season began, it has just gotten worse. Justin Steele has suffered setbacks and Cade Horton is out for the year. Both Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera have gone on the injured list multiple times.

These don’t even take into account the multiple relief pitchers the Cubs have had to place on the injured list this year, a list that just grew by one.

The Chicago Cubs placed Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list

In an effort to boost their bullpen, the Cubs signed reliever Phil Maton to a substantial contract over the off-season. Based on the fact that he had a 2.79 ERA in 63 appearances in 2025, it seemed like a good investment.

It hasn’t been.

In 30 appearances for Chicago, Maton is 0-1 with a 6.08 ERA. And on Friday, they placed him on the 15-day injured list:

The Cubs are putting reliever Phil Maton back on the injured list with essentially the same knee issue that sidelined him earlier this season. David Peterson is now on Chicago’s active roster and scheduled to start Saturday night in Milwaukee.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) June 26, 2026

Moving Maton to the injured list allows them to put the newly acquired David Peterson on their active roster without having to make any more roster moves. As seen in the post above, Peterson is going to start the second game of Chicago’s series against Milwaukee.

Peterson is 3-6 with a 6.09 ERA this year. Hopefully the change of scenery leads to some improvements.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• MLB insider offers brutal reality check on injuries to Cubs’ Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown
• Cubs pitching health update: good news and bad news
• Cubs GM Jed Hoyer reveals unsettling trade deadline intel

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago Cubs place yet another pitcher on 15-day IL as injury woes continue appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs are flying high, riding a four-game winning streak, having swept all four games of their series on the road against the New York Mets. Now 44-37 on the season, the Cubs travel north on I-94 to take on the Milwaukee Brewers, who sit in first place in the National League Central Division. They themselves are coming off of a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

While the Cubs went through a horrible month-long stretch of absolutely abysmal baseball, they have been more consistent as of late. Because of this, they have jumped back into the top-10 of ESPN’s MLB Power Rankings.

Pete Crow-Armstrong highlighted as Chicago Cubs take seventh in MLB Power Rankings

Last week, ESPN had dropped the Cubs all the way down to 11th in their power rankings. This week, though, they are back inside the top-10, being ranked seventh by their MLB experts:

“There might not be a better position player in baseball than Pete Crow-Armstrong when he’s rolling. And after a terrible start to the season at the plate, PCA is rolling again. The polarizing center fielder has been white hot in June with 10 home runs and a .410/.474/.867 slash line in 20 games.

“His 4.8 fWAR, also boosted by elite defense and baserunning, is second in the majors. And yet the Cubs’ 16-25 record since May 9 is the fourth-worst in the majors.”

As one can see, Pete Crow-Armstrong is the recipient of a special highlight in these rankings. Indeed, he has been on fire during the month of June, and that hot streak has him hitting .287/.367/.521 with 17 home runs, 45 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.

Imagine what his stats would look like if he did not get off to such a slow start.

Whether or not Chicago has truly turned a corner remains to be seen. The Mets are not scaring anyone, and while the Cubs are 7-0 against them this year, they are just 37-37 against everyone else.

The weekend series in Milwaukee will do a lot to show everyone how Chicago really stacks up against the better teams in baseball.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• MLB insider offers brutal reality check on injuries to Cubs’ Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown
• Cubs pitching health update: good news and bad news
• Cubs GM Jed Hoyer reveals unsettling trade deadline intel

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs, after sweeping the New York Mets in a four-game series, are now seven games over .500 and in second place in the NL Central Division. If the season were to end today, they’d also have the second Wild Card spot. After an extended rough patch, they are now 10-3 over their last thirteen games.

More News: Chicago Cubs pitching health watch: Some good news, some horrible news

Considering the crazy run of injury misfortune ripping the pitching staff apart, the team’s success has been absolutely amazing.

The most recent pitching gut punches came this past Wednesday when it was announced that both Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown would be going to the IL and on the shelf for an extended period of time.

Cabrera suffered a left hamstring/adductor strain Tuesday night while covering first base against the Mets at Citi Field. He had to be carted off the field.

Brown, meanwhile, had been battling neck discomfort for awhile before it forced the Cubs to place him on the IL. Manager Craig Counsell later told media that the 26-year-old, who has been an absolute revelation so far this season, would be shut down for at least a month before moving to the next step in recovery.

Cabrera, Brown join cast of bad luck Cubs pitchers

More News: Chicago Cubs bring back familiar bullpen asset amid pitching scramble

The two right-handed starters now join Jameson Taillon and Cade Horton (who is lost for the season after Tommy John surgery in April), along with closer Daniel Palencia on the IL.

Chicago’s series of bad breaks has dampened expectations dramatically on a team widely favored at the start of the season to win the NL Central and make a deep playoff run.

In the wake of losing Cabrera and Brown, the Cubs made some emergency roster pickups in hopes of at least partially filling the voids.

One Wednesday-Thursday, they traded prospect Cole Mathis to the Mets for pitcher David Peterson and also picked up castoff pitchers Bryse Wilson and former Cub Drew Pomeranz.

MLB Insider shares harsh reality facing Cubs

MLB insider Jon Heyman recently put the Cubs’ losses into perspective in an interview with 104. 3 The Score and offered a heaping dose of ugly, harsh reality.

Per Heyman:

“It’s really unfortunate. Brown was doing great. Yeah, he’s going to be shut down for a month, but then it’s another month to ramp up—and that’s a best case scenario.

Cabrera, he couldn’t walk off the field. If you have a hamstring injury where you can’t walk, you’ve got a tear. There’s no question about it. And, yeah, I think that’s generous to say that it’s a month and then another month to ramp up. They’d be fortunate to get these two guys back in two months. That’s not good…They really, really are in a world of hurt in terms of their rotation.”

So, in Heyman’s estimation, the earliest the Cubs could be expected to get Cabrera and Brown back is late August. But, really, there’s no guarantee of getting them back this year at all.

Hamstring injuries are notoriously unpredictable and Brown’s neck strain issue is similar to the one he had in 2024, which forced the team to shut him down for the season on June 9.

Picking up Peterson will help fill out the rotation and he might do better as a ground ball pitcher in Chicago than he did with the error-prone Mets infield backing him up. Matthew Boyd, back from his second stint on the IL, has just returned to active duty and looked solid enough in his first outing Thursday night.

Still, the Cubs are going to have to scramble to find more pitching—specifically starting pitching—if the team expects to make a serious run at postseason play.

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Chicago Cubs pitching has been beaten up in every conceivable way this season—and the bad times don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon.

More News: Chicago Cubs bring back familiar bullpen asset amid pitching scramble

There’ve been just so many injuries that it almost boggles the imagination. It’s at the point where, if someone wrote a script about the bad luck Cubbies and faithfully chronicled the actual misfortune this season, movie execs would reject it as too unbelievable.

Cubs pitching dramas

More News: Chicago Cubs: A look at the other pitcher picked up yesterday

Of the projected five-man starting rotation at the start of the season: Cade Horton is out for the year, Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon will be out for an extended period of time, and Matthew Boyd has just returned from his second stint on the IL. Meanwhile, former ace Justin Steele, who was slated to make his comeback from elbow surgery last season, suffered a setback in rehab and now may not be back at all this year. And in an especially cruel irony, 26-year-old Ben Brown, who had turned the corner in his development and had been delivering as one of the best starters in baseball, has now gone down to an injury that could cost him the rest of the season.

Then, there’s the bullpen, where closer Daniel Palencia and setup men Hunter Harvey and Riley Martin are currently on the shelf. Over the course of the season so far, Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, and Ethan Roberts have also spent time on the IL.

Health updates on Brown, Boyd, and Wiggins

With that craziness in mind, here are the latest updates in the Cubs pitching health watch:

In an interview with 104.3 The Score, Cubs manager Craig Carson recently offered an update on Ben Brown’s condition and things didn’t sound good.

“Ben’s diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck. So, it’s a very similar injury to ‘24. He’s going to get some other opinions on it, but we’re looking at, basically, limited activity for about a month and then go from there.

Back in 2024, Brown was shut down with a neck strain on June 9 and didn’t pitch the rest of the season.

Brown’s loss hits the Cubs especially hard since he was far and away their most effective starter since injuries brought him into the battered and strained rotation. On the year, he was 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA through 20 appearances (8 starts) and 68 innings pitched.

In a bit of corresponding good news, though, last year’s ace Matthew Boyd, on Thursday night, started his first game for the Cubs since May 3. He looked solid, but a bit rusty, in posting 4.2 shutout innings against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

There haven’t been any reports of post-outing soreness or anything out of the ordinary, so that’s a positive. The 35-year-old Boyd had been recovering from meniscus surgery when shoulder fatigue pushed back his return for a couple of weeks. Earlier in the season, he spent time on the IL with a left biceps strain.

In another taste of good news, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins has completed his rehab assignment and is slated to return to active duty for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

The 24-year-old had been sidelined with right elbow inflammation since early April. He’s not expected to be part of the big league Cubs plans this season.

This week, to help fill the void left by the injuries of Brown and also Cabrera, the Cubs traded for Mets pitcher David Peterson as an emergency rotation piece. They also picked castoffs Bryse Wilson and former Cubs Drew Pomeranz.

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The Chicago Cubs just swung a trade in an attempt to improve their ailing starting rotation, acquiring left-hander David Peterson from the New York Mets. Peterson has an ERA north of 6.00, but the Cubs are hoping that their strong infield defense can help the ground-ball pitcher improve.

Of course, Peterson is hardly the only addition Chicago fans want to see the team make, but he might be the only one for quite some time.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer revealed some intel on the MLB trade deadline this week, and while he is sure more trades will happen across baseball, he doesn’t seem to think it will be easy to complete deals between now and Aug. 3.

“Realistically, are there gonna be trades in July? Of course there will be, but I think we have to assume that we’re going to be mostly focused internally,” Hoyer said, via Will Sammon of The Athletic. “We’ll talk to every team, we’ll explore things, but realistically, I would imagine, given how teams are clumped together, it’s going to be pretty late toward Aug. 3.”

That isn’t exactly what Chicago fans want to hear, but it’s the stark reality of baseball right now.

Chicago Cubs GM Jed Hoyer is under intense pressure

Many Cubs fanatics have already grown tired of Hoyer, who largely stood pat at the deadline last year only to see the team get bounced by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

To be fair, Hoyer did add Alex Bregman in free agency while also notching a trade for Edward Cabrera over the winter, but the results haven’t been pretty. The Wrigley faithful wants to see a better all-around product on the field, and as of right now, the fans aren’t getting it.

Chicago has begun righting the ship after a miserable stretch, as it has won 10 of its last 13 games. However, the Cubbies have still gone just 17-25 after a 27-12 start, and with such a horrendous starting rotation that has been ravaged by injuries, a playoff push is going to be challenging.

Hoyer absolutely must make more additions if the Cubs want to be taken seriously as a World Series contender, but as Hoyer noted, it also depends on who is available. In this era of expanded playoff baseball, very few teams are completely out of the race, so you don’t have that many sellers at the moment.

Of course, that could change the closer we get to the trade deadline, so we will see if Hoyer is able to pull off any magic in the coming weeks.

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The Chicago Cubs have been taking blows all season when it comes to their pitching staff. The recent one-two shot from losing Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown definitely felt like a knockout combo when it landed on Wednesday.

More News: Chicago Cubs: A look at the other pitcher picked up yesterday

The Cubs are doing their best to roll with the punches.

Also on Wednesday, the team went out and acquired right-hander Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. They then traded prospect Cole Mathis to the New York Mets for David Peterson.

Peterson and Wilson come to Chicago as possible rotation fill-ins and/or bullpen inning eaters.

On Thursday, the Cubs showed that they’re not done shaking off the cobwebs from Wednesday’s chin shot.

Drew Pomeranz, back on the Cubs

More News: Chicago Cubs: “Concerned” Counsell braces for “rough” time after Cabrera injury

Chicago has opted to bring back veteran lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz, who was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 15.

The 37-year-old Pomeranz had managed to land a one-year, $4 million contract with the Angels following the success he enjoyed with the Cubs in a stellar turnaround 2025 season. Unfortunately, his production fell horribly and his 5.01 ERA through 25 appearances—along with peripherals that showed him heading even further south—prompted Los Angeles to cut him loose.

Bringing him back to Chicago, aside from being a feel good move, is another roll of the dice on a reclamation project to help bolster a pitching staff absolutely decimated by injury.

Currently, starters Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Cabrera, and Brown are on the IL, with former ace Justin Steele’s return from elbow surgery pushed back indefinitely. Matthew Boyd is just coming back from his own stint on the IL.

Meanwhile, in the bullpen, closer Daniel Palencia is on the shelf, as is hard-throwing setup man Hunter Harvey and surprisingly effective call-up Riley Martin.

Hoping for a second rebirth in Chicago

Pomeranz had a career rebirth last season with the Cubs after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations in late April. At the time, the veteran hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2021 and was, by his own admission, pretty much at the point of giving up.

Instead of hanging up his glove, though, Pomeranz would end up having an outstanding bounceback year, posting a 2.17 ERA in 49.2 innings over 57 appearances in the Cubs bullpen. In the playoffs, he was also rock-solid with a 1.50 ERA in six innings pitched.

Chicago clearly felt that regression was a distinct possibility with the southpaw and they pulled back from making bids on what surely was going to be an inflated contract.

Ultimately, it appears that the Cubs were right in holding back. Pomeranz’s velocity and spin rate are down, as well as the movement on his pitches. The end result of the decline has been lots of hard contact.

But at this point, the Cubs pretty much have nothing to lose by bringing him back and hoping on a second career resurgence in Chicago.

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The Chicago Cubs hammered the New York Mets on Wednesday in a double-header sweep that saw their bats come alive and Dansby Swanson explode with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs on the day.

More News: Chicago Cubs: “Concerned” Counsell braces for “rough” time after Cabrera injury

Then, they made headlines with a Mets trade that brought pitcher David Peterson to Chicago.

Before all that, though, the Cubs made another move that ended up going under the radar.

On Wednesday, they picked up pitcher Bryse Wilson off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies.

New Cub Bryse Wilson

More News: Chicago Cubs reality check: Is a big trade for pitching even worth making anymore?

The 28-year-old right-hander had been signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies in the offseason and ended up exercising the upward mobility clause in his contract, demanding a promotion to the majors. Philadelphia obliged on June 18, allowing him to pitch two scoreless innings against the Mets, before being DFA’d.

Wilson has spent parts of nine seasons in the majors—working for the Braves, Pirates, Brewers, White Sox, and Phillies—and has posted a 4.80 ERA over 164 games and 463 total innings pitched.

In 2023, he pitcher for the Brewers under then-manager Craig Counsell and had his greatest single-season success as a bullpen asset with a 6-0 record and 2.58 ERA through 53 appearances. He would later be named Brewers Unsung Hero for the 2023 season by the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Wilson, however, hasn’t been able to deliver any degree of sustained, consistent big league success beyond that one magical season. The Cubs are obviously hoping a reunion with Counsell can bring back some of that positive 2023 mojo.

Ground ball specialist

Like the other new Cubs hurler Peterson, Wilson is a ground ball pitcher—and arguably a more extreme ground ball generator overall than Peterson. When right, his sinker/cutter/four-seam fastball mix has hitters pounding the ball into the ground—something that should play well with the Cubs and their elite infield defense.

Unfortunately, he’s not “right” anywhere near as often as he’d like to be.

Wilson’s minor league stats this year are pretty awful on the surface with a 6.29 ERA over 12 appearances (11 starts) with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. But those numbers may be a touch deceiving, as Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami points out:

“For one, his strikeout (23.5%) and walk (8.5%) rates are both fine. And he really hadn’t been allowing a lot of hard contact (38%) or barrels (5.5%) either. Most encouragingly, he’s pretty much always been a high groundball rate guy, with his 2026 (Triple-A) rate up tom 52%. In front of this Cubs defense, that could play.”

In a lot of ways, Wilson and Peterson come to Chicago as righty-lefty bookends, both with promising ground ball-generating upsides as rotation fill-ins, but also with an overwhelming history of major league fails behind them.

But at this point, given the recent injuries to Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown, tacked on after the injuries to Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon, the Cubs have no choice but to roll the dice on castoffs seeking redemption.

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Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is arguably the most popular player on the team. Thanks to the contract extension he signed earlier this year, he likely will remain so for a long time. And while he has spent his entire Major League career with the Cubs, he was not originally drafted by the organization.

Back in 2020, the New York Mets selected Crow-Armstrong with the 19th overall pick in the MLB amateur draft. A year later, though, they sent him to Chicago in exchange for Javier Baez and Trevor Richards.

Needless to say, the Cubs have gotten the better end of that deal.

New York Mets legend Keith Hernandez regrets Pete Crow-Armstrong trade to the Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are in the midst of a four-game series against the Mets, the team that originally drafted Crow-Armstrong. Chicago has won the first three games, and the former New York prospect had Mets legend Keith Hernandez admitting on air that them sending Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs is one of the worst trade in recent memory:

Keith Hernandez after seeing a replay of Pete Crow-Armstrong rounding the bases…

“Oh my goodness. One of the worst trades in a long while by the Mets.” pic.twitter.com/H4qorS8t6p

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 25, 2026

“Oh my goodness. One of the worst trades in a long while by the Mets,” Hernandez said after watching Crow-Armstrong run the bases.

Since making his Major League debut with the Cubs, Crow-Armstrong has put together a 30-30 season, won a Gold Glove, and made an All-Star team.

So far this season, he is hitting .285/.366/.520 with 17 home runs, 44 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.

Needless to say, the woeful Mets sure could use a player like him right now. Fortunately for Chicago, they gave him up for next to nothing (as it turned out).

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs got mercilessly robbed in latest trade
• Cubs go all-in for a trade with the Mets
• Matt Shaw’s next six weeks could determine his Cubs future

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs entered Wednesday 41-37, but ended the day 43-37 after sweeping both games of their doubleheader against the New York Mets. They won the first game 10-3 and the second game 10-5. In both contests, shortstop Dansby Swanson had a significant impact on the outcome. Of their 20 runs, he drove in 11 of them.

It was a great sight to see for Cubs fans, who become increasingly frustrated as Swanson struggled at the plate all year long. Manager Craig Counsell, though, refused to remove him entirely from the lineup because of the stellar defense that he players.

And on Wednesday, his patience paid off.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson made MLB history

Batting ninth in the first game, Swanson went 2-4 with two home runs and seven RBI. His first home run was a three-run shot in the sixth inning, and his second was a grand slam in the eight.

In the ninth spot again for the second game, Swanson went 3-5 with a triple and four RBI. He also stole a base.

What he did on Wednesday was not only impressive, it was historic:

Today the @Cubs‘ Dansby Swanson:

hit a grand slam
hit a 3-run HR
hit a triple
stole a base
drove in 10+ runs

Since RBI became official in 1920, no other MLB player has accomplished more than 3 of those 5 feats on the same day. pic.twitter.com/1LqUAJX85S

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 25, 2026

Not only did Swanson accomplish all of these things on the same day, but he also raised his batting average over .200. He is now hitting .202/.303/.385 with 11 home runs, 46 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

It is also worth noting that in the previous game before the doubleheader, Swanson was 2-3 with a home run and four RBI. He has driven in 15 runs over his last three games.

It is unrealistic to expect this kind of run to continue, but it sure does seem like the Cubs shortstop has finally broken out of his slump, and that could go a long way in making the offense more consistent.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Cubs got mercilessly robbed in latest trade
• Cubs go all-in for a trade with the Mets
• Matt Shaw’s next six weeks could determine his Cubs future

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs‘ starting rotation has been the walking wounded all season long, and things got even worse this week with Edward Cabrera returning to the injured list and Ben Brown hitting the IL, as well.

As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures, so the Cubs decided to swing a trade on Wednesday night, acquiring left-hander David Peterson from the New York Mets in exchange for first base prospect Cole Mathis.

On the surface, I understand the deal. Chicago is in dire need of pitching help with six — yes, six — of it starters on the injured list. The Cubs are trying to contend for a playoff spot and have actually been playing much better baseball lately, having won nine of their last 12 games. They need to keep themselves afloat.

But when a contending team is desperate, other squads — like the Mets, for example — view it as an opportunity to take advantage of them, and that is exactly what New York did with this trade.

The Mets are 34-46 and going nowhere fast, so they have no reason not to sell right now. And with Chicago looking like fresh meat, New York pounced.

The Chicago Cubs were robbed in the David Peterson trade

Peterson was an All-Star last year, yes. But he absolutely fell apart with a 6.34 ERA during the second half of 2025 and ended with a 4.22 ERA and 1.370 WHIP on the campaign.

This season? Things have been even worse for the southpaw, as he lays claim to a 6.09 ERA and a 1.647 WHIP. He is issuing four walks per nine innings, and he has been so horrendous that the Mets actually moved him to the bullpen last month.

Peterson owns a lifetime 4.31 ERA and 1.400 WHIP, so it’s not like he’s ever been anything more than a back-end-of-the-rotation starter. Now, on the bright side, he is a ground-ball pitcher who has induced grounders on 51.1 percent of contact this season, so that could play well with the Cubs’ terrific infield defense. But do you really trust the 30-year-old?

It’s also a matter of what Chicago gave up for Peterson.

Mathis was a 2024 second-round pick who was slashing .272/.396/.585 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI over 182 plate appearances in Single-A this year. Obviously, he is still quite a long way away from reaching the big leagues, but he seems to be a pretty solid farmhand and was ranked 13th on the Cubs’ prospect list.

Perhaps Peterson will perform much better in the Windy City with a strong defense behind him, but you get the feeling that Chicago surrendered far too much to acquire a pitcher with an ERA north of 6.00.

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