An intriguing potential Cubs trade deadline target surfaces in new report

There's no secret. The Chicago Cubs are going to be heavily involved in the pitching market leading up to this summer's trade deadline. Injuries have laid waste to the entire staff, and if this team wants to be taken seriously as a threat to de-throne the Los Angeles Dodgers, this rotation will need some high-end reinforcements.

In a new write-up over at The Athletic (subscription required), Cubs beat writers Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney ran down 10 starters Jed Hoyer could target this summer. Most of the list was made up of the names we've all grown familiar with: Sandy Alcantara, Freddy Peralta, Zac Gallen - but one name paled in comparison in terms of stature, but could be a far more cost-effective option in left-hander Foster Griffin.

If that name rings a bell, it's because the Cubs were loosely connected to Griffin this winter as a perfect fit - a guy coming back from overseas looking to re-establish himself. Chicago's recent run of successes with reclamation projects and bounceback candidates speaks for itself and, now, they might get a crack at bringing the southpaw into the fold.

His return to the big leagues has gone better than anyone could have hoped so far. Griffin entered the week with a 2.12 ERA in eight starts, showcasing an impressive seven-pitch arsenal that's headlined by a cutter he throws nearly a third of the time. The Nationals took a chance on him last winter, signing him to a one-year, $5.5 million deal, and as good as he's been, he's not going to command the return that someone like Alcantara or Logan Webb, aces with team control, will.

Cubs fans might balk at the idea of betting on Foster Griffin as an answer

Now, after last summer's trade deadline addition immediately blowing up in Hoyer's face (Michael Soroka), I personally doubt the fanbase will take Griffin being the target well. A first-round pick more than a decade ago with a checkered MLB track record, I suspect most folks want to see the Cubs land someone with a more eye-catching resume.

But given the team's shaky farm system depth at this point, the hard truth may be that Chicago has to play in the shallower end of the trade pool. That's not a foregone conclusion, by any means, but the Cubs aren't exactly swimming in blue-chip prospects they can flip at the deadline for an ace. More than anything, this is a nice reminder that Hoyer can't afford to leave any stone unturned in his quest to address his team's biggest weakness.

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