Former MLB Executive Links Cubs to Five Starting Pitchers Amid Rotation Concerns

Former MLB Executive Links Cubs to Five Starting Pitchers Amid Rotation Concerns originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There’s no bigger need for the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline than the starting pitcher position. With Justin Steele done for the year and Jameson Taillon going down with an injury, the rotation has some major concerns.

It’s no secret the Cubs are inquiring about starting pitchers, and Jim Bowden of The Athletic identified the top five starting pitchers the Cubs should target at this year’s trade deadline.

“Mitch Keller of the Pirates,” Bowden writes, “Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly of the Diamondbacks, and Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins make the most sense.”

Each of these five has its pros and cons, but regardless, the Cubs should look to add one of these starters. Craig Counsell and Jed Hoyer can’t stick with their current rotation if they’re serious about contending this year.

Of the five starters, Alcantara is one of the most interesting. The former Cy Young Award winner has struggled greatly this season, with a 7.01 ERA through 17 starts. But he is under team control through 2027, and his history makes him the most intriguing starter on the market this year.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) returns to the dugout after a pitching change against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Keller and the Cubs are already linked, with Chicago making calls to Pittsburgh about his availability. He has a 3.58 ERA and is under team control through 2028. He’d be a great long-term investment in the rotation, but a deal might be harder to execute with it being an in-division rival.

Like Keller, Cabrera of the Marlins is also under team control through 2028, and with his 3.33 ERA this season, he’d be a nice long-term investment that wouldn’t cost a lot of money to keep.

Kelly and Gallen, meanwhile, are both on expiring deals and would be rentals for the Cubs. Both have had their ups and downs this season, but with the Diamondbacks pushing that they aren’t sellers, both might be hard to land.

Of these five options, the best choices for the Cubs would most likely be Cabrera, Keller, and Alcantara. The years of control, combined with the Cubs’ willingness to trade their top prospects, make these three starters the top options for the Cubs at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

Former MLB Executive Links Cubs to Five Starting Pitchers Amid Rotation Concerns

Tags: