Chicago Cubs Rumors: Matthew Boyd should be targeted at the deadline

The Chicago Cubs should look to acquire Matthew Boyd at the deadline

With the news of Tyler Chatwood heading to the injured list with a mid-back strain, the Chicago Cubs rotation becomes even more short-handed already down Jose Quintana. Colin Rea made his first start since 2016 on Saturday, allowing three runs in three and one-third innings.

The Cubs can’t rely on fill-ins to get them through this stretch. With the trade deadline approaching, they need to look at adding a starting pitcher. Matthew Boyd of the Detroit Tigers is an option that should be entertained.

Boyd is an under-the-radar starter who doesn’t have the flashiest stats, but these attributes can somewhat correlate to the environment he has been in since 2015 with the Tigers. Through six MLB seasons, Boyd holds a 31-49 record with a 5.08 ERA. Nothing special, but his 2019 season stood out to some, as he posted an 11.6 K/9.

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Boyd struggles with the long ball, as he gave up a league-leading 39 home runs in 2019. However, at 29 years old? The upside is there and now seems like as good of an opportunity as ever to get him into a new environment.

Boyd has been the topic of many trade conversations, as he has team control until 2022. His track record would give the Cubs the chance to get him at a reasonable price and that on top of the fact that the Tigers have a lot of solid pitching prospects already in the pipeline.

Boyd is a perfect fit for this team for the short and long term. Not only is the rotation down Quintana and Chatwood, but after this season, there are questions about Jon Lester along with the end of Chatwood’s contract. Having a starter like Boyd at 29 years old in the rotation will address the need right now and for the next few seasons as he has that team control until 2022.

With Anthony Rizzo’s recent comment about this season potentially being the last that this core is together, the front office needs to make sure they do their part to put this team in position to win a championship. David Ross has lit a fire under this group, and we have seen this team play and have fun like never before. The blueprint is there for a deep postseason run, but pitching issues need to be addressed.

The Cubs have an excellent opportunity at hand in 2020. If you would have told me a team with the 23rd ranked bullpen in baseball would be sitting in first place through 19 games, I’d be completely shocked.

With the pitching issues this team has had, to still be in a position to win the division and hopefully, more is truly remarkable and something the front office really should not overlook. Let’s hope Theo Epstein does the right thing and gets the Cubs the help they need this trade deadline.