Jayden Murray's Cubs' debut proves Jed Hoyer faces a daunting trade deadline reality

Don't say I didn't warn you. I wrote up the Chicago Cubs' latest trade acquisition over the weekend, saying I didn't see much to be excited about. And, to his credit, Jayden Murray did his best to validate that stance in his debut with the team Tuesday night in New York.

The right-hander came on in the bottom of the ninth with the Cubs up 9-3, in a good position to overcome Edward Cabrera being carted off the field after five innings with a gruesome-looking hamstring injury. Really, it was about as low-pressure of a spot you can hope for to ease a guy in, but things quickly went sideways on Murray.

After a leadoff walk to Brett Baty, Murray set down the next two batters he faced. No problem, right? Wrong. After Baty took second on defensive indifference, Carson Benge laced an 0-2 pitch into right for an RBI single to make it 9-4. Bo Bichette followed that with a two-run blast, pulling the Mets within three at 9-6, before Murray struck out Mark Vientos to finally close it out.

To say it could have gone smoother is a fair assessment. The final line on the righty: 1 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Maybe you chalk it up to jitters in his first appearance with the Cubs. Regardless, it's an important reminder as the trade deadline draws nearer: upgrading this pitching staff isn't going to be an easy task for Jed Hoyer and the front office.

Cubs need across-the-board pitching reinforcements at the deadline

It's not an either/or situation for Hoyer when looking at reinforcing his bullpen and rotation in the weeks to come. The Cubs need help in both areas, especially when you look at the injuries that continue to ravage the staff, as a whole.

Matthew Boyd is expected to return this week, which is a plus, but the rotation is still without Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and, now, Edward Cabrera. That leaves a mix of Ben Brown, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Javier Assad and Boyd as your rotation for the time being. Steele isn't expected to start again this year, placing more pressure than ever on Hoyer to deliver there.

The bullpen has its bright spots, sure, but a flexor strain for Daniel Palencia - plus the ineffectiveness of and injuries to the team's two 'big' offseason additions in Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey - have left a major void at the back of the pen. Craig Counsell needs reliable options in the late innings, so Hoyer can add that to his to-do list, as well.

Maybe there's a one-stop-shop like the Boston Red Sox to address this issue (a Sonny Gray + Aroldis Chapman package?) but that seems unlikely. Hoyer has his work cut out for him. This is a team that's currently in a playoff spot, but clearly needs upgrades on the pitching side of things if they want to be anything more than a quick October exit.

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