3 buy-low starters the Chicago Cubs could acquire at the deadline

Even with all of the injuries the Chicago Cubs has endured thus far, the depth has held up and kept the team on an absolute roll. Kris Bryant has performed at an MVP level and Javier Baez has continued to make magic happen on the base paths to make the team a blast to watch. Throw in a bullpen that has been on a franchise-best stretch, the team has been firing on all cylinders, and it should only continue as we await the returns of guys like Nico Hoerner, Anthony Rizzo, and Jake Marisnick to the lineup.

The team is in a much better spot than they were just a few weeks ago as they continue to close the gap on the top spot in the NL Central, however, the team is still not without its flaws. While guys like Zach Davies, Kyle Hendricks, and Adbert Alzolay have been better as of late, the rotation still hasn’t been overly trustworthy. Jake Arrieta has been a perfectly fine back-of-the-rotation starter, but Trevor Williams has been a liability for most of the year, and the Cubs would be wise to add another middle-of-the-rotation arm if they want any chance of making noise in October.

While it’d be nice if the Cubs tried to fill the void left by the Yu Darvish trade, acquiring a big-time ace, like Max Scherzer, isn’t likely to be in the cards for the team due to both the monetary and prospect cost it would take to acquire an ace of that caliber. With a good part of the team’s core set to hit free agency after the season, the Cubs are likely gonna be unwilling to part with their top prospects that they’ll need as replacements. Still, the Cubs can substantially upgrade their rotation with several other lower-tier options.

Chicago Cubs could grab an overperformer from an underperforming AL team

The Minnesota Twins have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball for all the wrong reasons. A team that was expected by many to win the AL Central has been a fourth-place team for most of the season and it could lead to a minor selloff at the deadline if their struggles continue. Should that happen, the Chicago Cubs should look to bring Michael Pineda into the fold.

Pineda has put together a fantastic 2021 thus far. The righty has a 2.62 ERA with a WHIP of just 0.985. Pineda also has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.92 and is averaging 5.58 innings per start this year. He would be a big upgrade over both Williams and Arrieta and would be relatively cheap to acquire as he is in the last year of his current deal and Minnesota would likely have to throw in cash to get rid of him

The drawback to Pineda however, is that he’s overperforming. Pineda has very little spin on his pitches, and when he gets hit, he gets hit pretty hard according to Baseball Savant. Teams have been able to barrel the veteran at a consistent rate, so some regression should be expected.

Still, assuming Pineda doesn’t regress too hard, and given the cost shouldn’t be too steep, he should be on the Cubs’ radar.

Chicago Cubs could add a veteran lefty from Kansas City

An intriguing name that could be on the market in July could be Danny Duffy. Duffy is in the last year of his four-year extension and was pitching at an elite level before being placed on the IL for an injury that isn’t supposed to be serious. Duffy has been a Royal for his entire nearly 10-year long career and was a part of the 2015 World Series champion Royals, so he’s pitched in October before.

Duffy has always been a solid mid-rotation starter and has had a few years where he’s been very good, including 2021 thus far. Duffy currently has a 1.94 ERA and has put up a 10.4 SO/9 to just 2.6 BB/9, along with an impressive 0.4 HR/9. Duffy obviously won’t keep up this staggering pace, but he may not regress as much as one would think, as his Savant paints the picture of a well-above-average pitcher.

The issue with potentially adding Duffy is that he’s been injured several times throughout his career, and the fact the Royals may not want to deal him. Despite the fact that the Royals have a lot of top pitching prospects, Duffy is a beloved figure in that franchise, and they may try to keep him if he keeps pitching well.

Still, if the Cubs can get him, he’d be a fantastic addition to the middle of the rotation.