Chris Sale Headlines 4 Starters Cubs Could Target in Trade Talks
Jed Hoyer recently confirmed what we already knew, telling viewers of The Show podcast that the Cubs plan on looking for pitching this trade deadline. Hoyer and the front office have built a solid pitching staff, but the depth continues to be tested by injuries and inconsistent performance. Winning a relatively weak NL Central is one thing, but the Cubs need more firepower atop the rotation if they want to make noise in the postseason.
With the trade deadline just over a month and a half away, there are still plenty of possibilities for Hoyer to choose from. When it comes to difference-making starters, however, we’ve narrowed it down to four options.
Coming off a Cy Young campaign in 2024, Sale has continued to dominate with the Braves. After 14 starts spanning 80.2 innings, the southpaw has a 2.79 ERA with 107 strikeouts and just 25 walks. The Braves currently have a 30-38 record, putting them 14 games out of first place in the NL East. Spencer Strider‘s lack of quality outings has really hurt, but they have several other issues that probably can’t be addressed this season.
Sale would be very expensive, as he’s under contract this season for $19 million AAV with an $18 million club option for 2026. There’s a chance the Braves decide to keep him, although Alex Anthopoulos’s history hints at making an opportune trade to bolster his farm system. Sale’s elite performance and reasonable control would make him a very costly acquisition, but he’s probably the best available arm on the market.
Alcántara’s return from Tommy John surgery has not gone as anticipated, although he’s shown signs of life in his last two starts. He’s faced off against the Marlins and Pirates, two of the weaker offenses in baseball, but they each still offer several quality hitters. The right-handed starter currently holds a 7.14 ERA in 13 games, the worst among pitchers with 60 innings or more. His 97 mph four-seam’s hard hit rate is 63.5% with a run value of -4, roughly the same as his 2022 Cy Young season just with fewer whiffs.
The fastball’s lack of effectiveness gives hitters an easier path to hard contact, and the fact that he’s throwing it more than any other pitch (25%) hurts his production. One possible path to improvement could be increasing the usage of his sinker, which has been by far his most valuable pitch this season and throughout his career.
His struggles will likely lower the acquisition cost, giving Hoyer even more reason to grab the former ace. The Cubs and Marlins had several in-depth discussions this past offseason regarding Jesús Luzardo, so they’re familiar with each other’s farm systems. Tommy Hottovy and Tyler Zombro have done an excellent job this year identifying pitching talent, with Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller standing as prime examples.
If anyone can fix Alcántara, it’s the Cubs and their pitch lab.
The Diamondbacks are in fourth place in the NL West, 5.5 games out of first place. While they aren’t ready to give up yet, things need to change quickly or Mike Hazen may decide to retool his franchise. Both Kelly and Gallen are intriguing options for Hoyer and the Cubs, with cheap contracts and strong performances throughout their respective careers. Gallen’s 1.33 WHIP may cause unease, but his cheap contract may give the Cubs hope that it’s fixable before he becomes a free agent this offseason.
Kelly has been fantastic this year, with a 0.99 WHIP and 3.18 ERA in 82.0 innings. He’s making half of Gallen’s contract, which would mean a trade probably ends up being more costly in terms of prospects. If the Cubs want to go on the cheaper end of things, as they’ve done in the past, Kelly is a fantastic budget option who leaves room for at least one more sizeable acquisition when the deadline rolls around.
Hoyer’s options for upgrades will become clearer as the season continues, and the All-Star break often serves as the line of demarcation for teams’ decisions to buy or sell. Trading for a starting pitcher before June concludes, and certainly before the deadline, is not out of the realm of possibility as Hoyer and the Cubs look to get the most value and impact for the stretch run.
