Cubs trade ideas land them two-time All Star to upgrade spotty rotation

While the Chicago Cubs offense has been producing at a league-leading clip, their mediocre pitching staff has prevented them from keeping pace with the National League elite. 

With Justin Steele out for the season and Shota Imanaga landing on the injured list, the Cubs have been forced to piece together a rotation with veteran journeymen and unproven youngsters. The results have not been inspiring, and their shortcomings were on full display Friday against the NL-East leading New York Mets. The Mets smashed four home runs against de facto ace Jameson Taillon, breaking the game open before the Cubs' bats could even get going. 

The Cubs may be able to win the relatively weak NL Central on the strength of their offense alone, but in order to compete with the pitching-rich Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres, they will need to upgrade their rotations. ClutchPoints' Zachary Howell believes they could find a solution in Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson. 

“Tyler Anderson makes perfect sense as a target for the Cubs,” wrote Howell. “The 35-year-old is leading his team in ERA and is one of the few pitchers on the team with a winning record.”

With a fastball that rarely breaks 90 miles per hour, Anderson certainly won’t blow anybody away, but he continues to be one of the game’s best at inducing soft contact. The two-time All-Star ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in hard-hit percentage and average exit velocity, relying on a six-pitch mix to keep hitters off balance. His track record of durability and dependability would be a perfect match for a Cubs team simply looking for starters who can keep their explosive offense in the game. 

After a red-hot start, the Angels have fallen back down to earth in recent weeks and now look to be near-certain sellers in the competitive American League West. Trading Anderson should be their first priority, given his expiring contract and his strong performance thus far, and the Cubs should be among the aggressive suitors. 

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