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3 early trade targets to bolster the Chicago Cubs bullpen
The Cubs could use more firepower in the bullpen, and they should keep these arms in mind during trade season
The Chicago Cubs are performing generally well to start the year, with an overall record of 11-7 through their first 18 games. But with the offense scoring a lot of runs and the starting rotation doing as well as can be expected after two key injuries, the biggest weakness on the team has by far been the bullpen.
Julian Merryweather was just transferred to the 60-day IL while the other main set-up man Hector Neris has struggled out of the gate. Not to mention Adbert Alzolay hasn't been that sharp. After just three weeks, the Cubs' closer has already matched his 2023 marks in blown saves (3) and home runs allowed (3), meaning the Cubs may need to bring in somebody else for the ninth inning at some point this year. Here are six relievers the Cubs should keep their eye on before the trade deadline on July 30th.
1. Carlos Estevez - Los Angeles Angels
The 31-year-old Carlos Estevez has been the primary closer for the Los Angeles Angels since last year. Despite the team not being very good in 2023, Estevez was. Although his 3.90 ERA was a bit high for a closer, Estevez was still able to convert 31 of his 35 save opportunities while striking out 78 batters in 62.1 innings pitched. He's a big man standing at 6'6 with a big fastball topping out in the upper 90s.
Estevez certainly has his flaws though, as he also surrendered 31 walks and posted a hard-hit percentage of 44.3%. But if he continues his trend of collecting saves and staying out of too much trouble via walks and home runs, Estevez could be an intriguing add down the stretch. He would only be a rental as his contract expires at the end of the season so this deal wouldn't cost the Cubs too many players in return. With the Angels playing behind the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners, it's almost a certainty that they will be sellers at the trade deadline and Estevez is one of their most tradable assets.
2. Michael Kopech -Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have finally moved Michael Kopech to the bullpen and it's no surprise that he is doing well in the closer role. The guy really only uses his fastball and slider, which is all you need as a reliever if you can throw 100 mph. He's striking out more than a batter per inning (15 K's in 10.1 IP), the ERA is at a decent 3.48 and although Kopech doesn't have a lot of saves yet, that's because the White Sox haven't given him many opportunities to get one. Having been shut out six times already with an abysmal record of 3-15 on the season, the White Sox haven't had many save situations.
If I were White Sox general manager Chris Getz, I would want to trade as many assets as possible right now to shore up the farm system for the future. As long as Kopech can handle his new bullpen duties, I'd expect him to be one of the next players shipped off. The only hiccup for the Cubs is that Kopech might cost them more than they're willing to give up. He still has another year of control on his contract in 2025, and if he is playing well come the trade deadline, other teams will want him too. But the Cubs have the prospects to make deals like this and it may be worth acquiring Kopech to make a playoff run. And the Sox would undoubtedly want to get their hands on some of the Cubs' top-hitting prospects.
3. Brock Stewart - Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins have gotten off to a really bad start with a 6-11 record and their starting third baseman Royce Lewis hitting the injured list in the first game of the year. There's definitely time to course correct, but the AL Central is a more formidable division than it has been in recent years. The Cleveland Guardians can never be counted out as their ability to develop high-end pitching is almost a guarantee at this point and they currently have a solid 13-6 record. Likewise, while the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers are not great teams, they do not look like pushover teams anymore. All of this points to the fact that it will be extremely difficult for the Twins to win their division and thus make the playoffs. This means there is a good chance the Twins will sell at the trade deadline.
The Twins have an excellent closer on their staff right now in Jhoan Duran, but he is only 26 and under team control for the upcoming three seasons. It would be foolish for them to move Duran right now. But set-up man Brock Stewart is a different story. In 2023 and 2024, Stewart has a 0.50 ERA over 36 innings with an impressive 50 strikeouts. Like Duran, Stewart is under team control for the next three seasons. The difference is that Stewart is 32 years old and is much more expendable.
Stewart also has a history with the Cubs. Back in 2019, the Cubs selected Stewart in the Rule 5 draft from the Toronto Blue Jays. He's had a shaky road to the majors with COVID-19 wiping out an entire year followed by a Tommy John surgery in 2021. But Stewart has effectively revived his career in Minnesota and the team might be willing to flip him with a playoff run looking unlikely.
Minnesota currently ranks in the bottom five in the league in several hitting categories as a team, including batting average (30th), on-base percentage (27th), and wRC+ (27th). Their farm system is in the middle of the pack and they don't have many impact bats coming soon to help their situation. The Cubs could provide a young hitter for the Twins along the lines of Matt Mervis, Haydn McGeary, or Kevin Alcantara. The Twins need hitters, and the Cubs have a lot of them to sell, so this move could make a lot of sense come July.
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