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Cubs' trade deadline clock has accelerated following devastating injury news

Already in desperate need of starting pitcher help, the Chicago Cubs were dealt a massive blow to their rotation.
ByBrandon Glick|
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon surrenders a home run to Lars Nootbar.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon surrenders a home run to Lars Nootbar. | Scott Kane/GettyImages

As Jordan Wicks' return to Chicago made the rounds on social media yesterday, an ominous question began to spring up: who would he be replacing on the active roster?

Well, Cubs fans got the answer to that question on the morning of July 4, and it's not an answer they wanted to hear.

Taillon, who has a 4.44 ERA in 17 starts (95 1/3 innings), has been far from elite this year, but he's been a valuable innings eater in the back of Craig Counsell's rotation. Considering the plethora of starting pitcher injuries the Cubs have had to deal with this year, this is among the least ideal revelations the team could have at this point.

Jameson Taillon's injury will force Jed Hoyer's hand at trade deadline

Now, the good news is Wicks, who has thrown 82 2/3 innings in his MLB career, has been really, really good at Triple-A since returning from a hamstring injury.

In his three outings (11 innings) since returning, Wicks has a 1.64 ERA and 16 strikeouts while only walking two. If there's ever been a time to test his mettle against big league hitters again, it's right now.

Still, given the team's overarching need for starting pitching at the trade deadline, this injury is only going to apply even more pressure to the front office to bring in an arm or two.

More than likely, this could accelerate the Cubs' schedule on executing a deal. With Taillon expected to be out until after the trade deadline, Chicago's top brass may elect to get a deal done during the All-Star break, rather than waiting for the July 31 ultimatum, especially if Wicks struggles in his first outing or two back in the majors.

Taillon's injury isn't a death knell to the team's postseason hopes, but it does exacerbate a fact that the entire league knows: the Cubs need starting pitching, badly.

Will that affect their leverage in trade talks? Does it matter? Maybe not, but what does matter is that Jed Hoyer, Carter Hawkins and company act quickly to prevent this news from sinking the team in July.

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