The Chicago Cubs have a very solid starting rotation, but the problem is that they really do not have a proven ace.
Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele are terrific pitchers, and Cade Horton has exhibited tremendous potential, but they don’t have a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Paul Skenes headlining their staff.
That’s why the Cubs have been mentioned as one of the top potential landing spots for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, but even in the case of Imai, he has proven absolutely nothing on the major-league level yet.
So could Chicago turn elsewhere for a frontline arm? Could the Cubs make a potential trade?
Well, Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic was recently floated as a possibility for the Cubbies, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic isn’t entirely convinced that he would represent the best best option for the North Siders.
Chicago Cubs warned to avoid a trade for Kris Bubic
Jul 20, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
In a recent mailbag, Sharma was asked about whether or not the Cubs could potentially pursue a trade for Bubic, but while Sharma didn’t think he would be a bad addition, he also didn’t seem in love with the idea of adding the 28-year-old.
“Bubic alone is a quality pitcher. He had a really solid 20 starts for the Kansas City Royals last summer, and he had been identified as a pitcher who could break out. Now he has. But is he what the Cubs really need?” Sharma wrote. “… Ideally, the Cubs are looking for a little more. He’s coming off a shoulder injury as well. How is that going to impact him going forward?”
Bubic went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA while allowing 98 hits and registering 116 strikeouts over 116.1 innings of work in 2025 before bowing out for the season in July due to a rotator cuff injury. He also logged a sparkling 2.89 FIP and a solid 1.178 WHIP, earning himself his first career All-Star appearance.
A former first-round pick, Bubic is definitely a late bloomer. He broke into the big leagues in 2020 and struggled over his first three campaigns. He then underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 before pitching exclusively out of the bullpen in 2024.
Kris Bubic probably isn’t the answer for the Cubs
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; American League pitcher Kris Bubic (50) of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the sixth inning during the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Stanford product owns a lifetime 4.14 ERA and 1.404 WHIP while averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Those numbers really aren’t impressive enough to warrant a substantial trade package, especially given his injury history and the fact that he has just one year of club control remaining.
Sharma is right: the Cubs should probably look elsewhere for starting pitching help, even if Bubic may have finally broken through this past season.
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