If this NL team decides to sell, these 3 pitchers could be Cubs trade targets

Pitching will be a top priority for the Chicago Cubs at this year's trade deadline, and the Atlanta Braves have some intriguing bullpen options if they decide to sell.

After seven straight years of playoff berths, including six division championships, the Braves are on pace to miss the playoffs in 2025. As of the All-Star break, Atlanta sits 12 1/2 games out of first place and 11 games below the .500 mark. The team is also missing four members of its starting rotation, including ace Chris Sale, who isn't due back from his rib injury until late August. AJ Smith Shawver is done for the season and will need Tommy John surgery, while Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo Lopez are likely done until September.

Things are looking bleak, and unless the team's offense fuels an insane winning streak in the second half, the Braves look pretty cooked. These three relievers are all playing on expiring contracts and the Braves can afford to move them this year to help regain some value for the future. The Chicago Cubs should check the price on these guys to help bring more stability to the back of the bullpen.

1. RHP Raisel Iglesias

Raisel Iglesias has been a successful closing pitcher in MLB for the last nine seasons for teams like the Cincinnatti Reds, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Braves since 2022. Although he's having a bit of a down year with a 4.42 ERA, Iglesias is still getting the ball in the majority of the Braves' save situations because he can still be effective.

The 35-year-old is better than 95 percent of the league in terms of hard hit percentage allowed, and he is still generating a lot of swing-and-miss and strikeouts (27.3 percent) while walking batters at just a 5.2 percent clip. Putting Iglesias in the same bullpen with Brad Keller and Daniel Palencia would give the Cubs three solid options for high-leverage spots late in ballgames, and Iglesias can easily handle the ninth inning when Palencia is unavailable.

In addition to his regular season success (career 2.95 ERA and 235 saves), Iglesias is very durable and has rarely been hurt throughout his career. Adding him would be a game-changer for the Cubs, and he has had his best stuff in recent weeks, with only three earned runs allowed in his last 15 appearances.

2. RHP Pierce Johnson

Pierce Johnson is actually an old friend who came up in the Cubs' minor league system after the team took him 43rd overall in the 2012 draft. Although he only appeared in one game for the Cubs in 2017, Johnson's career has been pretty solid since leaving Chicago. He had a few successful season in San Diego before getting traded to Atlanta in 2023.

This year, Johnson has used his funky curveball (which he has used 70% of the time) and fastball deliveries to psot a 2.67 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. The 34-year-old has been reliable and healthy this season and his talents would serve the Cubs well in middle innings.

Johnson does have a club option for the 2026 season on his deal, so he could be a bit more expensive than the others. But the Cubs need to consider everyone this year.

3. RHP Rafael Montero

Rafael Montero is another 10-year+ MLB veteran who is nearing the end of his deal with the Braves. The 34-year-old has seen better numbers in his career, but he has a respectable 3.97 ERA with 36 strikeouts over 34 innings this year. Not terrible.

Montero primarily relies on his splitter and fastball for the majority of his pitches, which has led to mixed results this season. While he is inducing elite chase rates and striking out a healthy 25.5% of batters, Montero is struggling with hard hits and walks. The righty has issued 17 free passes this year, which has undoubtedly led to a lot of the trouble he's gotten into.

Montero seems like a guy that the Cubs pitch lab could turn around. He has the tools to be better than he is and he is only a few years removed from being one of the Houston Astros' most effective relievers. Montero collected 23 holds, 14 saves, and a 2.37 ERA for Houston in their World Series-winning 2022 season. Given his numbers and expiring contract, Montero should be much cheaper than the other guys on this list, which makes him a prime candidate for the Cubs' pitching development to work with.