Cubs must go 'all-in' on trading for Twins' $73.5 million ace, says MLB insider

As the Chicago Cubs look to firmly establish themselves as World Series contenders, starting pitching has become a major roadblock.

Coming into the season, the Cubs were depending on the one-two punch of Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele to carry the day. Not only is the latter lost for the season, but the former was placed on the 15-day injured list this week after tweaking his hamstring.

Playoff teams, let alone World Series contenders, don't have rotations anchored by Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon. The Cubs will need to find someone to bolster their rotation eventually, but the main question is who they can realistically target.

On Monday, insider Robert Murray of FanSided urged the Cubs to go "all in" on trading for the Minnesota Twins' Pablo López, who signed a four-year, $73.5 million extension that runs through 2027.

"Justin Steele is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Shota Imanaga was recently removed from a start with hamstring tightness. Even before those injuries, Chicago's rotation needed reinforcements. That need is even more pressing now," Murray wrote.

"Besides, putting another upper-level starting pitcher into the Cubs’ rotation would make them even more dangerous come the postseason. Their offense, armed with Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, has emerged as the best in baseball and is the talk of the industry. And with Tucker a free agent at the end of the season and no guarantee to return, now would be the time for Jed Hoyer to go all-in."

Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp

López, 29, is off to an excellent start this year even after missing some time with his own hamstring strain. He carries a 2.25 ERA through five starts, striking out 26 batters and walking only four in 28 innings.

Because he's under control for two-and-a-half years, López could be expensive to acquire, because he's been a legitimate ace at times. But the Cubs have to be willing to get uncomfortable in order to give themselves a real shot at winning it all.

More MLB: Cubs must act quickly to sign rising superstar for under $100 million, says insider