Chicago Cubs: 3 big starting pitching trade targets to bolster the rotation

Everyone – and I mean everyone – is focused on the Cubs and every conceivable free agent signing Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins might try to pull off this winter. But Chicago isn’t going to address every roster need via signing and we shouldn’t lose sight of the trade market.

This is particularly true when it comes to starting pitching. Sure, there are guys like Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander at the top of the free agent market, but the Cubs aren’t shopping for rentals to top the rotation. This is where the trade market comes into play. So which guys could be on Hoyer’s radar? Let’s take a look.

Cubs: 3 big starting pitching trade targets – #3: Pablo Lopez

In recent years, the Miami Marlins have been rather lackluster, with the exception of the shortened 2020 season, when they swept the Cubs right out of the postseason in the first round. The Marlins also regularly sit in the bottom portion of the league in terms of payroll and that trend continued in 2022.

Given five of the Marlins’ top 10 prospects are pitchers and a pretty solid mix of arms at the big league level, the team could look to move right-hander Pablo Lopez, who was rumored to be on the block this at the deadline this summer. A team like the Cubs could put together a deal without seriously depleting their own farm system, offering up position player talent for the Miami starter in a win-win scenario.

This season, Lopez pitched a career-high 180 innings, finishing with a 3.75 ERA, which doesn’t seem too appealing until you take a deeper dive. Lopez actually registered a 2.86 ERA in his first 104 frames this season before dropping off with a 4.97 ERA in the second half. If it weren’t for Sandy Alcantara ahead of him, he probably would have earned All-Star honors as the team’s representative in Los Angeles.

Though the second decline is discouraging, Lopez owns a 3.52 ERA over the last three seasons. Obviously, the Cubs shouldn’t push all their chips in on a guy like this if they’re looking for a bona fide ace, but early this year, Lopez showed what he’s capable of when he’s at his best.

If he can find any consistency at all and build on his early 2022 showing moving forward, he could very well be a solid back up option for the Cubs to target if they miss on the guys at the top of their list. He’s not a sure-fire bet for ace material, but at just 26 years old, his big breakout season could still be coming and his potential is still through the roof. He would be the cheapest of the three options on this list.

Cubs: 3 big starting pitching trade targets – #2: Shane Bieber

Moving on to Cleveland, the situation with Shane Bieber grows increasingly interesting. Bieber was also reportedly available at the deadline before before the Guardians went on a blistering 20 games above .500 pace in the second half to bring home the AL Central Division crown. One could understand the argument if he were now off the table, unless the return of course was too much to pass up.

On that flip side of that coin, it’s important to remember that Cleveland is no stranger to trading away their star players. Francisco Lindor was moved to the New York Mets after the front office realized they weren’t able or willing to pay his contract demands. Remember, too. They dealt him after their postseason run was cut short – so the Guardians making the postseason this year doesn’t mean they’ll simply run it back with Bieber in tow in 2023.

For what it’s worth, MLB Trade Rumors still pegs Shane Bieber as a potential trade target this winter for the Cubs. Bieber and Lopez both have two years of arbitration remaining and would be affordable from an AAV standpoint as the Cubs look to compete as soon as next year.

For the most part, Bieber has been an elite arm early on in his career. For 2022, he finished with a 2.88 ERA and 198 Ks over 200 innings even on the season. He has earned All-Star honors twice and brought home the AL Cy Young in 2020. I’m sure I’m not alone when thinking happy thoughts of him in a Cubs uniform along with the likes of Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele and Hayden Wesneski.