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The Chicago Cubs could be in the market for a starting pitcher near the trade deadline. The team lost Justin Steele for the season, and the Milwaukee Brewers are closing in on them in the National League Central.
The Cubs once looked set up to run away with the NL Central, but now the Brewers are just 3 1/2 games back and have been one of the best teams in baseball over the last month. The Cubs may need to find a replacement for Steele soon to end up winning the division. Cubs starters have a 4.06 ERA on the season.
FanSided's Zach Pressnell suggested the Cubs could be suitors for Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins. Alcántara won the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, but has struggled ever since. However, he is pitching better as of late.
He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This year, he has a 6.69 ERA, but has a 2.47 ERA over his last four starts. If he has turned a corner, he could become the talk of the trade deadline. He is under club control through 2027 and has the potential to carry a rotation.
"The Cubs have a loaded farm system despite trading away a few top prospects in the offseason to bring in Ryan Pressly and Kyle Tucker," wrote Pressnell. "At this point, the Cubs need to go all in to win the World Series while they have Tucker on the roster or they could be left kicking themselves in the behind at the end of the season, especially if Tucker leaves in free agency."
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The Cubs' offense has been phenomenal this season, led by Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong. However, they will need a reliable rotation to get through the gauntlet that is the NL in October. Alcántara and a healthy Shōta Imanaga would be a great duo to have.
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