After the Chicago Cubs announced Matthew Boyd would be on the shelf for “foreseeable future,” a possible trade target has come forward.
On Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs announced that starting pitcher Matthew Boyd would be out for the foreseeable future. Boyd suffered a miniscus injury while playing with his children. The injury requires surgery to heal.
Boyd is just the latest of a long list of Cubs pitchers lost to injury in 2026. Including Boyd (for a second time), they are back to 10 pitchers currently on the injured list.
Starting pitcher Cade Horton was lost in early April when he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery. Justin Steele, who has been out for more than a year recovering from a surgery of his own, had a setback on his path to returning. He is now not expected to return until after the All-Star break.
It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the Cubs have depth, but they are still in need of more help in the rotation. The injuries command trade talks begin early, and a potential frontrunner has emerged.
Insider Believes the Chicago Cubs are in Play for Minnesota Twins Starter Bailey Ober.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network was on local Chicago sports radio on Wednesday afternoon, just before the news of Matthew Boyd’s injury broke. During his hit, he mentioned Minnesota Twins starter Bailey Ober as a viable option for the Cubs on the trade market.
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As Morosi mentions, Ober is a young pitcher who is under team control through the 2027 season. The Twins are currently only 1.5 games out of their division’s lead going into Wednesday night’s action. However, Morosi does not expect them to be a true player, like the Detroit Tigers or the Cleveland Guardians.
Ober is 3-1 through seven starts in 2026 with a 3.55 earned run average. He was rumored to be on the move last summer when the Twins had a fire sale. However, he and teammate Joe Ryan ended up staying put. Ryan is another name involved in trade talks, possibly an even better option than Ober. However, he has raised major concerns about his ability to stay healthy.
The Cubs may not panic and choose to ride out with what they have for the time being. But as teams start to position themselves, waiting too long could leave them high and dry.