Chicago Cubs Rumors: Could this team stand pat at the Trade Deadline?

Chicago Cubs: Health key to this group of arms

That leaves the starting rotation. Yu Darvish‘s extended stay on the disabled list is a gigantic question mark. However, it isn’t as if he is out for the year. Tyler Chatwood‘s inconsistency and control problems is the other big question with the starting rotation.

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Montgomery has pitched so incredibly well since being inserted into the rotation he has made dealing with both issues much easier to cope with. When Darvish returns to the starting rotation, Chatwood might be removed from the rotation.

A lot of other contending teams are going to be looking at adding a starting pitcher which will increase the price for guys such as J.A. Happ and Nathan Eovaldi. That is a scenario that doesn’t demand a trade.

Of course that assumes that health only continues to improve and everyone continues to pitch well. Darvish could suffer another setback. Its possible that someone else could suffer an injury. Justin Wilson could revert back to the version the Cubs had at the end of last season.

Before going to the disabled list, Duensing was not pitching the way he did at the start of season. Duensing didn’t allow an earned run in his first 17 games.