Cubs may have dodged massive mistake with popular rumored trade target

The Chicago Cubs have been no strangers to looking for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, and have lived in the trade market for one for much of the past year. Edward Cabrera was eventually the pitcher the Cubs settled on, but before the trade with the Miami Marlins, MacKenzie Gore was a very popular trade target.

Through three seasons with the Washington Nationals, Gore boasted elite swing-and-miss stuff. He has been one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball, and, like Cabrera, there were reasons to believe the Cubs' pitching infrastructure could unlock the version of Gore that becomes a true top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

The Texas Rangers were the team to pull the trigger on a trade for Gore, and it hasn't exactly gone the way anyone could have expected. Through his first 10 starts with the Rangers, Gore has an ERA of 4.78 and has walked 11.3% of the hitters he's faced. Gore is still striking out hitters more than the league average, 25.9%, but even that has dipped from the 27.2% clip he had with the Nationals last year.

Making things worse, Gore is now dealing with an injury. Gore was removed in the second inning of his start against the Colorado Rockies earlier this week with lat tightness. The Rangers have downplayed the injury scare, but it adds to the uneven results that Texas has received from the 27-year-old pitcher this season.

Now, to be clear, the Cubs are dealing with a similar concern for Cabrera. He's looked fine through his first nine starts with the Cubs, but there's been a desire for more. Not to mention, there remains an injury concern, considering his track record with the Marlins.

Edward Cabrera was still the right trade for the Cubs

The biggest difference between Gore and Cabrera is the fact that the Cubs' starting pitcher is under control through the 2028 season. Gore is a free agent after the 2027 season. There's an added season of control for Cabrera, and likely the biggest reason why the Cubs were willing to meet the asking price of the Marlins, and not the Rangers.

The Cubs certainly need Cabrera to be better, but the situation isn't as urgent as it would have been if they were currently working through Gore's regression and potential injury scare.

As it turns out, no matter if it was Cabrera or Gore, the Cubs once again find themselves in the market for an established starting pitcher ahead of the MLB trade deadline. This time, they likely will look for a pitcher who is closer to a finished product.

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