Cubs Rumors: Surprise starting pitcher targets emerge in trade search

The Athletic left no stone unturned when Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney emptied out their notebook with intel regarding what the Chicago Cubs are hoping to accomplish at the MLB trade deadline. The Cubs' need for a starting pitcher carried most of the information shared by the Cubs' beat writers, and that shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Starting pitching remains the biggest need the Cubs have at the deadline, and in many ways, their success moving forward can be tied to the pitcher they add.

Of course, given that the need for the Cubs at the deadline has been identified since Justin Steele went down with Tommy John surgery, the list of names connected to the team has grown stale. Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Mitch Keller, Seth Lugo, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen are the pitchers who have been connected to the Cubs the most.

Thanks to Sharma and Mooney, however, we have new names added to the Cubs rumor mill.

Cubs Rumors: Michael Soroka could return to Chicago

There's been a growing belief that the Cubs could target a pitcher who may not have the ERA to suggest they are an answer, but the team believes their infrastructure and defense could provide a quick fix. Michael Soroka of the Washington Nationals would check that box.

After spending the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox, Soroka sports a 5.35 ERA with the Nationals this season through 13 starts. However, under the hood, Soroka's expected ERA, 3.19, suggests he has been extremely unlikely this season. Soroka is also striking out 256 percent of the batters he has faced this season.

Cubs Rumors: Chicago exploring buy-low deals for rehabbing pitchers

Another outside-the-box idea is that the Cubs could target veteran starting pitchers who are working their way back from an injury. Two pitchers who check that box would be Jon Gray of the Texas Rangers and Tanner Houck of the Boston Red Sox. Gray has yet to pitch this season, but is currently on a minor-league rehab assignment. Houck, meanwhile, has 9 starts this season with an 8.02 ERA before suffering an elbow injury in May.

Houck is under team control until 2028 and is a year removed from having a 3.12 ERA with a 3.9 fWAR. Gray, meanwhile, is in the final year of a four-year deal.

More Cubs Rumors from Cubbies Crib