Cubs Rumors: Pirates' Adam Frazier trade hints they’re ready to start dealing

With the All-Star Game over and the waiting for the second half of the season to start ongoing, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has plenty to work on right now. With the trade of Adam Frazier from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Kansas City Royals, the NL Central rival has officially started its annual selloff a few days early. It's time for Hoyer to pounce.

Obviously, the Cubs need to find themselves a starting pitcher by the deadline. Two starting pitchers would be ideal. On that note, there's been a lot of smoke around Hoyer talking to the Pirates about a deal that would include, at the very least, starting pitcher Mitch Keller.

Mitch Keller is a perfect fit for the Cubs' rotation needs

While Keller wouldn't be the top of the rotation starter Chicago Cubs fans are jonesing for, he'd be a nice piece as that second starting pitcher. And since the Pirates are willing to start selling off their best pieces, there's no time like the present to find a way to get a deal done.

With Jameson Taillon's injury, Cade Horton's uneven rookie season so far, Imanaga just returning from the IL, and Chris Flexen currently a less-than-perfect solution as the No. 5 starter, it would behoove Hoyer to move quickly before July 31.

When the Cubs start the second half against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, it would be ideal if they have some reinforcements already in town and ready to take the ball.

Going out and getting Keller as soon as possible could also make the follow-up trades a bit easier to navigate, as the other teams wouldn't have the added benefit of the pressure being on Hoyer to "make any deal, just do something."

It's obviously Hoyer's job to ignore that kind of talk. However, other GMs know there's pressure for him to have success this season, the last of his current contract. Taking away that leverage by pointing to the Chicago Cubs already having a good starting pitcher would be a big benefit to the club, outside of indeed, having that talented starter.