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Cubs would love Bleacher Report's Jacob deGrom trade proposal if it were realistic

Good? Yes. Too good? Also yes.
ByNick Deeds
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Sep 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom (48) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Sep 10, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom (48) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's no secret that the Chicago Cubs need pitching desperately this winter, and they'll be looking at virtually every option to add a potentially ace-level pitcher to their rotation. Whether it's throwing their hat in the ring on the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes or hoping for a rebound from Freddy Peralta after his tough 2026 season, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer figures to be listening on all options this winter.

For a team on the hunt for an ace, the trade market offers few options better than Jacob deGrom. The two-time Cy Young award winner may now be 38 years old, but he remains extremely effective in the twilight of his career. Over the past two years, deGrom has spun a 3.57 ERA with a 3.39 FIP and 386 strikeouts in 335 1/3 innings of work. That's the sort of production any team could use, and Bleacher Report put together a mock trade that would bring deGrom to Chicago.

Jacob deGrom in Chicago is little more than a pipe dream

Unfortunately for any fans who are excited about the possibility of deGrom suiting up for the Cubs, there's little reason to believe this could actually happen. The proposal sends deGrom to Chicago in exchange for southpaw Justin Steele and catching prospect Owen Ayers. That's no small price to pay, given that Steele is the on-paper best pitcher the Cubs have right now and Ayers could be lined up to share time with Miguel Amaya behind the plate in the majors next year.

Even if Steele and Ayers would hurt to lose, it would be a no-brainer to bring in deGrom if that was all it took. Steele is slated to reach free agency next offseason anyway, and has hardly pitched over the past two years after undergoing elbow surgery. Ayers, meanwhile, has risen from High-A all the way to Triple-A this year and his .722 OPS with Iowa indicate that he might not be quite ready to make the jump to MLB next season.

While there's little question about if the Cubs should accept that trade if it's offered to them, fans still should know that this deal will almost certainly never happen. Not only could the Rangers likely get a stronger return than this for deGrom, but it's also worth noting that he probably won't be traded at all. The veteran ace made extremely clear ahead of the trade deadline that he intends to finish his career in Texas, and even invoked his full no-trade clause to block a deal that would've sent him to Atlanta.

Between the fact that deGrom would surely cost a lot more than just Steele and Ayers to acquire, and that even if a deal could be reached it would surely be simply rejected by deGrom himself so he can remain in Dallas, there's little reason for Cubs fans to give this possibility much thought. It's fun to dream on deGrom arriving in Chicago this winter, but fans should look to free agency or perhaps a more likely trade for someone like Drew Rasmussen instead of pinning their hopes on deGrom.

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