5 popular pitchers directly tied to the Cubs in the latest round of trade rumors

After the Milwaukee Brewers ran off an 11th consecutive win on Monday to leap frog the Chicago Cubs for the best record in the National League and simultaneously take control of first place, it's all eyes on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer with the trade deadline just over a week away.

In an ugly loss to the Kansas City Royals, Ben Brown was, again, not sharp and MVP candidate outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong sat out due to a knee injury - potentially adding yet another item to an already-lengthy to-do list. That list includes shoring up a shorthanded starting rotation, fleshing out the bullpen and bench and adding a safety net at third base.

Given the sheer volume of needs Chicago has, the team has been connected to a wide range of names of late. Here are 7 pitchers you need to know who have been directly connected to the Cubs in the latest round of MLB trade rumors.

7 players directly tied to the Cubs in the latest round of trade rumors

Seth Lugo - SP - Kansas City Royals

Kansas City right-hander Seth Lugo turns 36 this fall, but he's shown no signs of slowing down this season, carrying a 2.94 ERA through 18 starts. Coming off his first All-Star appearance last year, the veteran continues to put up quality numbers - something he's done, almost without a beat, his entire 10-year MLB career.

Lugo holds a player option for 2026 valued at $15 million - but if he stays healthy and finishes the year strong, it should be a non-factor. He's posted a sub-3.60 ERA in all but one season dating back to 2018. The guy has been the definition of dependable, although he's hardly the headline-making rotation addition fans are hoping for.

Sandy Alcantara - SP - Miami Marlins

After the Miami Marlins opted not to trade Sandy Alcantara this spring, the widely-held belief was he'd be the hottest commodity at the trade deadline. That's now the case, though, as the former NL Cy Young winner continues to pitch like a shell of his former self, torpedoing his trade value in the process.

Alcantara, 29, leads the league with 77 runs allowed this year - which has poured cold water on his market, despite the fact he could be controlled through the 2027 campaign. An ERA north of 7.00 with a career-worst walk rate? That hardly screams ace - even though that's the caliber of return the Marlins will want if they move him this summer.

Mitch Keller - SP - Pittsburgh Pirates

Mitch Keller continues to be tied to the Cubs in the latest reports - a trend that's dated back more than a month, with the right-hander representing a young, controllable arm the Cubs could slot into the rotation for years to come.

Playing on a five-year, $77 million extension that runs through 2028, Keller profiles as a quality starting pitcher - one who's currently in the midst of one of the best years of his career, despite an unsightly 3-10 win-loss record. If we're talking current Cubs comps, I tend to view him as a Jameson Taillon-type, with a slightly higher ceiling.

Emmanuel Clase - CP - Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians aren't expected to trade two-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase this summer - but you can never say never in this game. One of Cleveland's most valuable trade chips, the right-hander can be controlled through 2028 via his current deal and a pair of team options. That fact, paired with his shutdown performance in the ninth, could make him one of the biggest names teams look to snag in the next nine days.

Since the start of the 2021 season, he's made nearly 350 appearances with a sub-1.80 ERA to go along with a sub-1.00 WHIP. He's been the best of the best in the late innings and would give the Cubs an lethal ninth-inning weapon for years to come. But rest assured, you're not getting any sort of bargain in this deal.

Taj Bradley - SP - Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have the depth to move a starting pitcher this month - and Taj Bradley looks like the likeliest to move. The 24-year-old boasts a mid-90s fastball but has yet to blossom into a shutdown starter. A trade for the right-hander is an upside play, and one with potential to pay off in a big way.

On the season, Bradley has a 4.01 FIP and 7.8 K/9, again, hardly awe-inspiring numbers. But in each of the previous two campaigns, he punched out more than 10 hitters per nine and, even in 2025, he's missed barrels at a solidly above-average mark. Definitely a name to keep an eye on after years and years of the Cubs coveting Tampa Bay pitching.