Cubs are expecting 'scarcity' of what team needs most at the deadline

Bright spots in the Chicago Cubs' rotation have been few and far between this year. Despite that fact, the team is in a good spot as the first half winds down - in control of a playoff spot with a very real chance to play October baseball for the second consecutive year.

Injuries have decimated the organization's pitching depth, forcing Jed Hoyer to pull the trigger on an early deal for left-hander David Peterson in late June and picking up multiple pitchers off the scrap heap in an attempt to keep the ship afloat. For months, we've had the Aug. 3 trade deadline circled as the date for reinforcements - but it may not be as simple as that.

A new report from The Athletic (subscription required) says team officials are planning for a 'scarcity' of starting pitchers being available - also suggesting things could come right down to the wire for teams looking to add to their respective staffs.

That could be a problem for Hoyer, whose Cubs lack clear timelines on injured pitchers Ben Brown, Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera - although none are expected to return anytime soon. Jameson Taillon should be good to go in the second half, adding an experienced arm back into the mix, but it's clear this is a major area Chicago could stand to improve between now and the deadline.j

Even with some luck, the Cubs need to find a way to add to the rotation

Even with Taillon - and Matthew Boyd, who returned to the fold recently - the rotation mix leaves much to be desired, especially with an eye on October: Boyd, Taillon, Peterson, Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea (assuming Javier Assad is the odd man out when Taillon returns). Sure, the Cubs pushed past the wild-card round last year without Steele or Horton, but that's not a re-run I'd like to watch this fall.

That aforementioned scarcity doesn't mean Hoyer will necessarily miss out on landing a big arm ahead of the trade deadline. But it does reinforce the fact that getting at least one or two of the team's currently injured starting pitchers back in the second half may represent the Cubs' best chance of making marked improvements in that area down the stretch.

And, given how the team's luck has played out so far in that department, I can't say it's an entirely encouraging thought.

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