The Chicago Cubs are in the market for a starting pitcher ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, and recent reporting has pointed in the direction of Reid Detmers. Detmers was a bit of an unknown commodity at the start of the season with the Los Angeles Angels, considering he was making a return to the rotation after pitching out of the bullpen last season, but he's quickly become one of the most desirable targets at the deadline.
Yahoo Sports' Russell Dorsey was latest national insider to point the Cubs in the direction of Detmers. Dorsey reports that the Cubs, along with the Chicago White Sox, have interest in Detmers. Interestingly enough, the Cubs and White Sox will likely be shopping in the same aisles before next Monday.
Reid Detmers has emerged as a clear Cubs' trade deadline target, and there are several reasons why.
Considering this deadline could see the likes of Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, and Sandy Alcantara being moved, some Cubs fans may be questioning why there has been so much focus on Detmers. Once one gets to know the pitcher, it's clear why the Cubs may make him the priority.
Reid Detmers is under control through the 2028 season
Overall, it seems clear that the Cubs prefer to add a starting pitcher under control beyond this season. Detmers is one of the few available pitchers who would check that box. Additionally, he has an additional year of control after 2027. That could prove easier for the Cubs and Angels to match on a trade, considering they don't have tor worry about assessing value on what could be a lost season next year.
Reid Detmers replaces the balance the rotation is set to lose this offseason
Matthew Boyd, David Peterson, and Shota Imanaga are all free agents after the season. As it stands, that would leave Justin Steele as the only left-handed option in the rotation at the start of the 2027 season. Given how the Cubs have operated in recent years, they likely want to have multiple southpaws in the rotation, and that likely adds to the appeal of crossing that item off their offseason shopping list now by trading for Detmers.
Reid Detmers offers the one thing that's missing in the Cubs starting rotation
With a fastball that sits in the middle-90s, Detmers doesn't have the high-velocity that the Cubs have lacked in recent years, but he does do one thing exceptionally well, he misses bats. Detmers is striking out 27.6% of the hitters he's faced this season. It would be the highest mark of any other pitcher in the Cubs' rotation this season.
