Cubs targeting $77 million Pirates All-Star in possible blockbuster: Report

The Chicago Cubs are hot on the tail of starting pitching at the trade deadline. If anything, it might be too obvious.

With Justin Steele out for the season, Matthew Boyd dealing with a minor shoulder injury, and Ben Brown getting shelled, the Cubs could stand to add multiple starters. Getting one who can feasibly start a playoff game will be the bare minimum ahead of the Jul. 31 deadline.

On Wednesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Cubs were "keeping a close eye" on a strange array of starters: the Miami Marlins' Sandy Alcantara, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Mitch Keller, and the Athletics' Luis Severino.

Keller is an interesting fit because he's within the Cubs' division, he has the lowest ERA of the three, but he's also got a 1-10 record on the season. If he could escape the Pirates, perhaps he could unlock a little more firepower.

Later on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score confirmed Nightengale's report about Keller and said the two teams had had at least one conversation regarding the 29-year-old right-hander.

"Confirming Pirates and Cubs have talked about Mitch Keller. (Bob Nightengale) first report of interest," Levine wrote. "Getting deal done is challenging because of sellers market. One GM said to me 25 teams still feel they have a wild card chance."

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Keller's five-year, $77 million extension runs through 2028, and it's about to start getting expensive. The Cubs would be responsible for just over $60 million over 3 1/2 years.

There's no question the Pirates would be willing to part ways with him to save money. But the Cubs know how to penny-pinch at times too. Will a deal make sense for both sides?

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