Cubs might go big at the trade deadline in one area fans haven't been thinking about

The ninth inning has been a roller coaster ride for the Chicago Cubs this season. Offseason signing Ryan Pressly, who waived his no-trade clause to come to Chicago and close again, stumbled early and often. Porter Hodge, who ended last season as the ninth-inning man, hit the IL for a good amount of time and just returned. The solution came from the unlikeliest of places in 25-year-old Daniel Palencia.

Heading into the 2025 season, Palencia had 37 big-league appearances and a 5.07 ERA to his name. The stuff was never the issue, but consistency and control had been major issues for the Venezuelan hurler. But everything has changed this year, and he's been a godsend for Craig Counsell and the Cubs.

Entering action Saturday, he's got a 1.86 ERA and 2.84 FIP, dramatically slashing his walk rate and carrying a 1.000 WHIP through his first 27 appearances. As dominant as he's been, though, Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers thinks Jed Hoyer can - and will - push his chips in to add a more experienced late-inning arm to the mix before the July 31 trade deadline.

“Pitching in the ninth inning in June is hard enough, to do it in October with no experience is a different animal,” Rogers said on the Cubs Weekly Podcast. “But come Aug. 1st, you can’t make that change, you can’t go out and get someone. So you have to project what Palencia will look like in October. I’m still gonna say no [the playoff closer is not currently on the roster]. Palencia might get some saves in October, but I think there is somebody out on the market that will get some for the Cubs as well.”

Pursuit of a closer reminiscent of Cubs' 2016 trade deadline blockbuster

Of course, any time you mention adding a big-name closer at the deadline, Cubs fans think back to 2016 when Theo Epstein brought him flame-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman as the answer to the team's only clear need - and everything fell into place, with Chapman dominating down the stretch and playing a huge role in October.

As it so happens, Chapman is still slamming the door for teams in the league and has turned the clock back with the Boston Red Sox this year, posting a 1.36 ERA in 36 appearances. On a one-year contract, he shouldn't break the bank prospect-wise should he be moved at the deadline, allowing the Cubs to use that young talent to add an ace to the top of the rotation.

That's not the only name that could potentially be available. Chicago could pursue Athletics right-hander Mason Miller, Twins' closer Johan Duran or former Pirates' All-Star David Bednar. But if Rogers is right, one of the Cubs' biggest areas of strength - the bullpen - could get even stronger in the weeks to come.