Chicago Cubs poised for major additions based on MLB Trade Deadline prediction

There was an expectation heading into the season that the Chicago Cubs would likely be in the market for a starting pitcher at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline in July.

That expectation seemingly turned to confirmation immediately on Opening Day when the ace of the Cubs rotation, Justin Steele, went down with a hamstring injury.

Steele was the one player on the Cubs' pitching staff that can't be replaced.

As constructed on Opening Day, the Cubs' featured a starting rotation that if one squinted, they could faintly see the makeup of a post-season rotation depending on the productivity of Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga. With Steele potentially sidelined for several weeks, that image fades away.

Steele's injury has created an unfortunate retrospect on the moves that the Cubs did not make this past offseason.

The Cubs were linked to potential trades for Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber but ultimately were unable to pull off a move for either pitcher. The Dodgers ultimately outbid the Cubs in their trade offer to the Rays for Glasnow and consequently signed the starting pitcher to a five-year contract extension.

Shane Bieber will be a popular name in Chicago Cubs trade rumors this off-season.

Bieber remained with the Cleveland Guardians and there remains a chance that he will be traded at the deadline in the event that the Guardians fall out of contention.

A bold prediction made by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (Subscription Required) was that the Cubs would trade for Bieber at the trade deadline. Included in that prediction was also the guess that the Cubs would trade for Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Kenley Jansen.

Bieber struck out 11 in the Guardians' Opening Day victory against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

The belief is that the Cubs avoided going over the first level of the luxury tax this offseason is because the team wanted to leave space to do so at the deadline. If that is the case, Bieber is likely at the top of their wish list.

More Chicago Cubs News