Cubs Rumors: Perfect bullpen trade fit 'expected' to be dealt this summer

Adding a late-inning weapon is always on the mind of MLB executives with an eye on October.

Unfortunately, for the Chicago Cubs, they have several more pressing needs, most notably adding to a starting rotation that's left much to be desired. When the team was rolling early in the year, I speculated that a reunion with Aroldis Chapman could make sense given Boston's struggles and likely status as a seller - and while the fit remains, a new report suggests it would take a lot for Chicago to snag the left-hander.

Chapman is 'expected' to be dealt this summer which, again, isn't a surprise. He continues to defy age, carrying a 0.46 ERA through 20 appearances, averaging nearly a dozen strikeouts per nine. But competition for the eight-time All-Star is already heating up and, given the number of potential suitors, I'd peg the Cubs' odds of landing him next to nil.

Even if the Cubs are buyers at the deadline, this isn't where they'll focus

With such a deep field of prospective landing spots, it feels like a certainty that whoever trades for Chapman is going to have to overwhelm Craig Breslow and the Red Sox, just to overcome the other offers that will be on the table. The Cubs' up-and-down play this season hardly puts them in a position to go all-in, especially for a position that isn't even their most pressing need.

One report suggests a return to Pittsburgh is a possibility, which could buoy the Pirates' hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. As for the Cubs, even if they put themselves in a position to add at the deadline, odds are they focus almost exclusively on the rotation given the injuries they've sustained and the inconsistent results from Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon this year.

So while a reunion with Chapman to commemorate the 10-year reunion of their first go-round together is easy to romanticize and would give Craig Counsell a devastating 1-2 punch alongside Daniel Palencia, it feels safe to say he'll call a new city home come August - but it won't be Chicago.

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