Latest Cubs trade idea might be the worst one yet

The Chicago Cubs enter July with the expectation of adding a starting pitcher, and it seems that the team is looking at the top of the market. For example, if the Cubs were to trade for either Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins, it would seem likely that they would be willing to include top prospect Owen Caissie as part of the deal. However, just because the Cubs will dangle Caissie in trade talks ahead of the deadline, that doesn't mean they will include him in any deal that lands them a starting pitcher.

It's a lesson that Bleacher Report has to take into account when pitching their "fresh trade idea" for the Cubs ahead of the deadline. In the suggestion, the Cubs send Owen Caissie, Jefferson Rojas, and right-handed pitching prospect Nazier Mulé to the Tampa Bay Rays for 29-year-old starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen.

That, to simply put it, is an outrageous suggestion considering the idea of the Cubs trading three Top-100 prospects for Sandy Alcantara was deservedly mocked.

The Cubs following that model and sending two Top-100 prospects in a trade for Rasmussen can't be characterized as a "fresh trade idea". It can be characterized as a move that would almost certainly have Jed Hoyer on the first train out of town. The only pitcher who could come close to commanding that return is Cabrera, given that he has all the makings of an ace and is under team control until 2029.

Cubs fans baffled by trade proposal for pitcher no one’s watching

There is no doubt that Rasmussen has put up good numbers throughout his career, a sub-3 ERA in each season he has pitched except for his rookie year in 2020, but he would be an extreme gamble in the sense that he has only pitched over 100 innings in a season once.

Not to mention, Rasmussen's underlying metrics this season would suggest regression is coming. Rasmussen has a 2.78 ERA through 17 starts this season, but his velocity is down, and his expected ERA is 3.62. In other words, the success Rasmussen is having this season doesn't quite pass the eye test. Add in the lack of experience as a starting pitcher, and there's no justification for the Cubs sending two Top-100 prospects to the Rays for the veteran pitcher. It would be hard pressed to justify the Cubs moving Caissie or Rojas separately as the prospect centerpiece in a trade for Rasmussen.

More Cubs News from Cubbies Crib