Cubs opener move makes it painfully clear a trade must happen now

Jameson Taillon's spot in the rotation is up tonight when the Chicago Cubs host the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field, and while speculation was that Ben Brown would return from Triple-A Iowa and start the game, Craig Counsell announced on Sunday that Ryan Brasier would get the nod as the Cubs go with the opener approach once again.

It's the second time that Taillon's spot has been up since he suffered a calf injury that has him on the IL, and while openers have become a norm, the Cubs aren't in a position to be relying on such a concept.

Fresh off a weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Milwaukee Brewers have won 10 games in a row, and enter Monday tied with the Cubs at the top of the National League Central. While the Brewers are working their voodoo magic, the Cubs can't continue to rely on openers getting them through this part of their schedule.

The MLB trade deadline is next, and that likely will see the Cubs find a permanent replacement to Taillon in the rotation. It's a move that can't come soon enough.

Cubs opener experiment leaves no doubt about what must happen

If the Cubs are going to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, that likely is a move that will happen on July 31. However, Taillon's injury has opened the door to the Cubs potentially adding two starting pitchers before the deadline. If that is the goal for the Cubs' front office, they likely will be trying to push one of those moves across the finish line this week.

There are several available starting pitchers who could check that box. White Sox's Adrian Houser, Baltimore Orioles' Charlie Morton, and Washington Nationals' Michael Soroka could be deals that are made ahead of the deadline. Each of those teams has several moves that they may make ahead of the deadline, so getting started with activity this week could be key.

For the Cubs, that could be a viable lifeline as an addition this week likely keeps them from having to use another opener when Taillon's spot is up again.

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