One way too early MLB Trade Deadline need for the Cubs following Opening Day

There was an incomplete feeling to how the Chicago Cubs' offseason ended.

It was an offseason that saw the Cubs acquire Kyle Tucker, attempt to solidify the bullpen, and add rotation depth in Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea. Of course, the Cubs are hoping that Boyd, who is more than rotation depth and finally healthy, is able to unlock the potential he once had when he was rising through the Detroit Tigers' system.

However, the moves shouldn't hide the fact that the Cubs avoided accomplishing what was believed to be their primary goal when they entered the offseason: adding an established top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

While the Cubs' starting rotation has been the reason they entered September in each of the past two seasons with the chance of reaching the postseason, there have been signs that regression could be coming in 2025. Whether it was Shota Imanaga entering his sophomore season in Major League Baseball, Jameson Taillon entering a "bad year" in following his good-year, bad-year trend, or the flags that existed with Javier Assad at the end of the 2024 season; there was reason to be skeptical of the potential of the rotation in 2025.

The Cubs are 1-3 entering play against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, and among the biggest way-too-early takeaways is that the Cubs will need to address the rotation at the MLB Trade Deadline at the end of July.

Justin Steele has been plagued with leaving pitches up in the zone during his first two starts of the season and while he got away mostly unscathed against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, it's a practice that will bite him more times than not.

Taillon did nothing but give up hard contact in his first start of the season on Friday, and the hope is that Imanaga can clear the command issues on Saturday that plagued him during his Opening Day start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Biggest takeaway after Opening Day is the Cubs need to address their starting rotation

The guess here is that at the deadline in July, assuming the Cubs buyers, they will address their need at the top of the rotation.

Dylan Cease will always be a popular name for Cubs fans, but the idea of the Cubs trading for him in July, knowing that he is a free agent at the end of the season doesn't add up with moves that this front office has made in the past. The name to watch should be Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins. Alcantara is under contract through the 2026 season and has a club option for the 2027 season. With the prospect capital the Cubs have to offer, Alcantara seems like an ideal candidate to target in July.