Cubs Rumors: Three trades they need to make before deadline

Chicago Cubs: How good did this guy look against us?

Which brings me to the point- despite the nasty stuff, he has yet to establish himself on the big league level due to command issues. Sound familiar? There’s a reason I comped him to Dillon Maples, who also boasts a high 90s fastball and adds in a devastating slider that could be one of the best in the big leagues–if he could throw strikes with it consistently.

Last year with the Royals, Staumont was mediocre in limited time but had concerning peripherals. He pitched 19 1/3 IP, had 15 Ks and 10 BB, and also gave up four home runs. So far this year, Staumont has cleaned it up considerably, striking out 17 while only walking five in just 8.2 innings pitched. He’s also averaging 98 mph on his fastball, and it’s awfully nice to be able to have someone come out of the pen throwing BBs.

Before Staumont establishes himself as a stud at the big league level, the Cubs would be smart to roll the dice on his 2020 command and get him. Offering one or two of their second-tier prospects (Ryan Jensen, Chase Strumpf, Christopher Morel, Pedro Martinez, Tyson Miller, Keegan Thompson, etc.) to a team that is still a ways away from realistically competing. Staumont isn’t a free agent until 2026, so the Cubs would theoretically be getting his best years for dirt cheap.