Cubs may look toward a hated rival to address their biggest roster need

Colin Rea has performed admirably in two spot starts filling Justin Steele's spot in the starting rotation, holding both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers offense at bay during a critical stretch of the schedule. But the Chicago Cubs aren't sitting on their hands and are reportedly already scouring the market for potential starting pitching upgrades.

The big name on everyone's minds is Miami Marlins ace and 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara - and while he'd be the ultimate in-season addition, all indications point to the Fish taking a wait-and-see approach with the powerful right-hander and will take any trade talks right up to the July deadline.

Alcantara hasn't been his usual self so far this year after missing the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. In four starts, he's pitched to a 7.27 ERA and 4.76 FIP - signs he's still shaking the rust off. What makes him so valuable (beyond his track record) is the fact he's under team control through 2027 - but that will also drive his asking price into uncomfortable territory for many interested suitors.

Cubs and Cardinals trades have been few and far between

Looking at a lower tier of options, Bruce Levine singled out Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez and a pair of St. Louis Cardinals starters: Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde. It was somewhat shocking the Cardinals didn't trade either of those arms in their reported effort to cut payroll this offseason, but it might be even more surprising if a deal with the Cubs is how those efforts finally come to fruition.

Chicago and St. Louis haven't hooked up on a trade in decades. The Cardinals acquired right-hander Jeff Fassero from the Cubs in 2002 in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers. In 1995, the Cubs picked up Todd Zeile from St. Louis in a deal, but those are the only trades between the longtime rivals since 1980, when future Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter went from Chicago to St. Louis.

Circling back to Gray and Fedde, I can't help but wonder if there's a framework to a larger deal here - one that could also bring flamethrowing closer Ryan Helsley to Wrigley. It would add some serious firepower to the pen, stabilize the rotation and be the biggest trade between the Cubs and Cardinals we've seen in nearly a half-century.

The Cubs have the chips to do pretty much anything they want in terms of trade acquisitions this summer. But would they really push them in on a division rival? Time will tell.