4 realistic trade proposals to give the Cubs their ace

With the lack of Cubs connections to the bigger fish in the sea when it comes to starting pitching, it makes you wonder exactly what the team's plan to actually compete in 2023 looks like. The front office knows it needs to add that knockout punch to the top of the starting rotation. Acquiring that ace, however, isn't quite as simple as just opening the checkbook. Unfortunately, the Cubs don't get to call dibs on whoever they want while the rest of the league idly stands by waiting for their turn.

Sometimes, avoiding the free agent market altogether can be the way to go. Though much like free agency, when a player is made available, every team is going to come calling to inquire about the price to receive his services. When it comes to the Cubs, they currently have the prospect haul to benefit them in a few ways. For one, acquiring an ace via trade gives you the opportunity to maybe clear up spots on your 40-man roster to have more room for additions in free agency. Secondly, the Cubs could relieve some of what feels like will be a log jam in the farm system.

Though Alexander Canario went down with injury and Brennen Davis' back gave him fits all year long, the Cubs have a multitude of young outfielders you don't want to have held back when they're ready to move up. Put all this together and you can see a path to landing that ace-caliber arm. That being said, let's take a look at four trade scenarios and what it could cost to land that arm at the front of the rotation this winter.

Trade Scenario #1: Cubs snag Pablo Lopez from Miami

Realistically, Pablo Lopez might be one of the easier pitchers to secure via trade this winter given Miami's plethora of arms. Thankfully, the Cubs have a nice mix of pieces to put together enticing packages without decimating the big league roster. Offering up Caleb Kilian, Christopher Morel and Adrian Sampson shows equal value on paper. The Marlins get the Cubs' #14 prospect, a 45 FV prospect in Kilian, plus the up-and-comer Morel while adding in a solid veteran in the form of Adrian Sampson.

Though he slowed down at the end of 2022, Lopez went an absolute tear in the first half of the season. He finished the first half with a 2.86 ERA over the course of 104 Innings of work. Considering Lopez only pitched 102 innings in all of the 2021 season, it's safe to say his 180 frames this year was a bit of an uptick.

In fact, it was nearly 70 innings higher than his career high of 111 2/3 innings in 2019. Lopez started to break out last year with a 3.07 ERA over 20 starts last season. At 26 years old, he has major front of the rotation potential for the Cubs, especially playing in a less competitive NL Central.

Trade Scenario #3: Cubs finally land Tyler Glasnow from Tampa

Ahead of the 40-man deadline earlier this month, we talked about the possibility of the Cubs prying Tyler Glasnow away from Tampa Bay. Instead, the Cubs wound up landing infield prospect Miles Mastrobuoni, but we know the front office has had their eyes on Glasnow for some time now. Why the Rays wouldn't be willing to trade him based on their small market resources, coupled with the fact that Glasnow's trade value is as high as it's going to get right now is a question I'd love to get answered.

Selling off Glasnow keeps the influx of both team-friendly contracts and prospects rolling in for Tampa, which is something they depend on heavily considering they have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. For the Cubs, as stated before, they free up a potential log jam in their farm and keep things moving like a well-oiled machine. Based on the contract structure for Glasnow, he is owed just $5 million for 2023 and a whopping $25 million for 2024. Safe to say, the Rays could be shooting themselves in the foot, because he won't be worth anywhere near as much next offseason. Now is clearly the time to strike.

Looking at a potential return of Caleb Kilian, Owen Caissie and Nick Madrigal could make sense for the Rays. Caissie is the #10 prospect in the Cubs farm. Kilian is a tune-up away for major league status and Madrigal has shown plus bat-to-ball skills throughout his career. The Rays recently lost Kevin Keirmaier but could slide Brandon Lowe to the outfield and insert Madrigal at second. If the Rays ask for a little more, the Cubs need to be willing to pull the trigger. At the very least, they need to twist Tampa's arm and try to get it done.

Trade Scenario #4: Cubs hook up with Cleveland on Shane Bieber

Last but certainly not least we come to Shane Bieber. You may be thinking, why would Cleveland, a team that just won the AL Central, trade their best pitcher? The answer is pretty simple. The Guardians don't keep guys they can't pay.

Let's remember - a deep postseason run, this very franchise traded their face of the franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor due to the contract he was about to command, and the same would have been said for Jose Ramirez if he didn't take less money to stay in Cleveland. Simply put, regardless of the team's record and success, the Guardians don't keep guys they know they can't afford.

Bieber has been one of the better pitchers in baseball for some time now. He recorded a 1.63 ERA in a shortened 2020 season in which he earned his first Cy Young award. This year, he posted a 2.88 and 200 innings recorded on the season. He has earned All-star honors twice and that number would probably have stretched to three years in a row if there was an All-Star Game in 2020. Adding to the hardware, he also earned his first Gold Glove award this season, as well.

Bieber still has another two years of team control. Acquiring him will be the most expensive from a prospect standpoint of anybody on this list. A package of Brennen Davis, Owen Caissie, Caleb Kilian and Nick Madrigal can be a strong starting point if the Cubs can push Cleveland over the edge in terms of trading Bieber. He has been the discussion of trades in the past. Either way, the Cubs have the prospects to pull off these caliber of blockbusters. In doing so, they will compete in 2023.