Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team still focusing on arms as deadline nears

With just hours till the non-waiver trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs are yet to pull the trigger on a deal, despite being linked to several major players.

When July 31 rolls around, never sleep on Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs.

Last season, Chicago sent top prospect Jeimer Candelario, Issac Paredes and a player to be named later to the Detroit Tigers. In return, they brought in left-hander Justin Wilson and veteran backstop Alex Avila.

Less than a week ahead of the deadline two years ago, the Cubs pulled off a blockbuster, adding flame throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman to the mix – sending a loaded prospect package to the Bronx in return.

So far this trade season, the Cubs have been relatively quiet. Their only moves? Bringing in a pair of Texas Rangers hurlers in Jesse Chavez and Cole Hamels. While it may not garner the fanfare of a last-minute deadline deal, both of these trades went a long way in addressing the team’s need of added depth in the staff.

Here’s a midday roundup of the latest rumors – and what they mean for the first-place Cubs.

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team misses out on Brad Ziegler

At one point late Monday, it seemed like the Cubs had found their bullpen depth piece.

But, quickly after that report surfaced, it became clear things weren’t quite as deep as they’d seemed. Ultimately, Miami shipped their 38-year-old right-hander to the Diamondbacks. What made him so attractive? Despite his age, the side-arming hurler has been dominant over the last two months.

Since June 1, Ziegler sports a minuscule 0.93 ERA, outstanding 80.3 percent groundball rate and a 22:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Given how overworked the Cubs’ current group of relievers are heading into the dog days of summer, he may have been just the shot in the arm Theo is searching for.

I’d feel pretty confident in saying Arizona is likely to get their money’s worth. They’re intimately familiar with Ziegler, who spent six years in Phoenix, pitching to a 2.49 ERA in 348 appearances for the Diamondbacks.

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team eyeing young bullpen assets

The elephant is in the room.

This team likely needs to add to the pen to have a legitimate shot at lasting deep into October. That’s not to say the current roster lacks talent. Rather, it’s a simply a statement as to how heavily the relief corps has been pushed so far this season.

Cubs starters have pitched the fourth-fewest innings in the National League. This has led to a revolving door between Iowa and Chicago – thankfully, with some degree of quality. But adding at least one more arm seems to be a ‘need’ at this point.

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Enter San Diego right-hander Kirby Yates and Jays reliever Ryan Tepera. Both guys come with a relative level of controllability – and the former has developed a devastating split-fingered pitch that’s led to his emergence as one of the league’s best relievers.

In 42 games, Yates carries a 1.52 ERA and 2.05 FIP – not to mention an unthinkably low 0.871 WHIP across 41 1/3 innings of work. This guy would give the Cubs a very solid bullpen piece for the foreseeable future, and take the load off back-end guys like Pedro Strop and Steve Cishek.

(Not to mention, our very own Alex Patt pointed to Yates as a key target earlier this month).

As for Tepera, whom the Cubs scouted recently, as well, he carries some more ‘normal’ numbers. In four years with Toronto, the right-hander boasts a respectable 3.49 ERA (4.19 FIP) and 1.141 WHIP. This season, he is averaging a career-high 9.9 strikeouts per nine, evidence of his swing-and-miss stuff.

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Harper on the block, then pulled back?

It’s been an, um, interesting 24 hours in Washington, D.C.

Last night, it appeared as if Bryce Harper, the face of the Nationals franchise, was available in trades. But, by the time the sun rose on Tuesday, the front office was singing a very different tune.

Washington enters play Tuesday one game below .500. Things don’t look good as young clubs in both Atlanta and Philadelphia show no signs of slowing up in the second half. A sale of Harper would mean pretty much everyone is on the table, to a degree.

But as far as the Cubs go, the Harper being dangled story has one main implication – and it has nothing to do with luring him to the North Side of Chicago. Rather, such a move would tell the league the Nationals are open for business – meaning some of their relievers, such as Kelvin Herrera, could be available.

No matter how much you’d like to see Bryce Harper in a Cubs uniform – I can assure you. It won’t happen any sooner than Opening Day 2019 – if it ever comes to fruition even then. This team is focused on pitching. To think anything else would be foolish and delusional.

(Disclaimer: The exception to the above rule? If the Cubs believe Kris Bryant will miss the rest of the season. Then, it’s anybody’s guess what Theo and Jed will look to pull off).