The Chicago Cubs are expected to be aggressive buyers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, with a primary focus on acquiring starting pitching to offset a season marred by injury luck. The club currently controls the top National League Wild Card spot and is 13 games over .500, according to Sports Illustrated.
Addressing Rotation Depth and Injuries
The drive for pitching upgrades follows significant losses to the staff. Several pitchers, including Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, and Hoby Milner, have either been out for the season or dealt with prolonged stints on the injured list. Despite these absences, the Cubs have maintained a team ERA of 4.27, which ranks 20th in MLB, per Sports Illustrated.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who previously acquired All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman before the 2016 World Series, has stated he believes the deadline should be approached “analytically.” While some speculate the team might target elite arms like Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Tarik Skubal, or Josh Hader, the Chicago Tribune reports the Cubs are more likely to pursue pitchers who have faced recent struggles or injuries, such as Casey Mize, Brooks Raley, José Soriano, or Freddy Peralta.
Rumored Starting Pitching Targets
Reports indicate several specific targets that could bolster the rotation. Among the most prominent is 35-year-old Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays. Gausman, who has a 4.51 ERA and 115.2 innings pitched in 2026, is not on the list of eight teams to which he can block a trade. Those blocked teams include the Brewers, Reds, Tigers, Mets, White Sox, Pirates, Mariners, and A’s.
Other potential targets include:
- Joe Ryan (RHP, Minnesota Twins): A 30-year-old with a 3.38 ERA and 114.1 IP in 2026. The Cubs were previously interested in Ryan during last year’s deadline.
- Emerson Hancock (RHP, Seattle Mariners): A 27-year-old with a 3.16 ERA and 105.1 IP. Seattle may be open to trading a starter because they currently have six healthy options.
- Reid Detmers (LHP, Los Angeles Angels): Listed as a rumored target for the club.
Prospects and Trade Capital
To acquire these arms, the Cubs may lean on a farm system that saw Double-A Knoxville and High-A South Bend win first-half division titles. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers have emerged as Top 100 prospects. However, Hartshorn is considered probably off-limits for likely trades.
Other potential trade candidates include outfielder Kane Kepley, as Pete Crow-Armstrong is now viewed as ensconced in center field for the foreseeable future. The Cubs cannot trade their most recent draft picks, including Carson Jasa, Myles Bailey, Brandon Sorrell, and Cade Townsend. Additionally, Seattle may specifically seek right-handed bats such as Kevin Alcántara and Matt Shaw in exchange for Emerson Hancock.
Postseason Stakes and Roster Core
The Cubs’ push for the postseason is bolstered by the rapid development of 24-year-old All-Star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong recently agreed to a six-year, $115 million contract extension. Jed Hoyer described the player’s disciplined approach as exactly what we always hoped he could get to,
noting that his ability to reach scoring position easily makes him a player opposing teams must build their October game plans around.
While the club remains a top contender, they currently trail the Milwaukee Brewers by six games in the NL Central. If the current standings hold, the Cubs would host a best-of-three wild-card series at Wrigley Field in October, mirroring the team’s path from the previous year.
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