Astros' Nate Pearson trade may have unlocked new Cubs' trade deadline partner

Well, the Chicago Cubs and Nate Pearson aren't re-uniting. The Houston Astros traded the hard-throwing right-hander to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday after designating him for assignment earlier in the week.

While that may initially seem like the end of things, the Royals acquiring Pearson could hint at Kansas City preparing to trade one of their veteran starting pitchers. Pearson could serve as an insurance policy should such a move happen, allowing him to fill the rotation spot of anyone who's moved between now and the trade deadline.

We know the Cubs are expected to be incredibly aggressive on the pitching front, so another potential partner is good news. While we've heard rumors connecting Chicago to Kris Bubic for more than a year, lingering shoulder and elbow issues make a move for him highly unlikely (and probably ill-advised for a team with pressing needs like the Cubs).

Right now, there are two important names to keep an eye on: Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.

Royals have 2 veteran starters who could interest the Cubs in trade talks

Wacha is in the second year of a three-year, $51 million extension he signed with the Royals - and he's enjoying another solid campaign, entering Wednesday as the MLB leader in innings pitched. It's not just quantity he's delivered, either, evidenced by a 3.66 ERA and 1.173 WHIP. The right-hander has long been a workhorse, a quality that could appeal to the Cubs, who've fought their way through pitching injuries virtually all season long.

Lugo, meanwhile, is two years removed from a runner-up finish in AL Cy Young voting. He hasn't looked like the same pitcher, really, since the start of the 2025 season (256 innings/4.77 FIP) and, at least to me, feels more like a complimentary/depth piece rather than a notable trade target. Considering he turns 37 this fall and is owned north of $21 million next year, the regression over the last two years would have me steering clear.

There are some relievers the Royals could move, as well, so it's worth keeping tabs on the rumblings coming out of Kansas City outside of Wacha and Lugo. As Cubs fans may remember, Pearson has had success out of the pen, as well, which could allow him to backfill a late-inning role if the Royals move off a bullpen piece.

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