Potential Cubs bullpen trade target hits the IL with an ominous injury

The Chicago Cubs are likely going to try to add a high-leverage reliever at the trade deadline, but this Arizona Diamondbacks target probably just came off the board.

Shelby Miller, who has been Arizona's most effective relief pitcher this year, just hit the injured list with a forearm strain in his throwing arm. The Diamondbacks are thought to be a logical trade partner for the Cubs since they are severely underperforming in the standings, as they are staring at six teams above them in the National League wild card race. And after the major blow to their pitching staff when their ace Corbin Burnes went down with Tommy John surgery (not to mention multiple key relievers) it seems all but guaranteed they will be sellers at the deadline.

Miller made a lot of sense for the Cubs since they could use another lockdown reliever to pair with Daniel Palencia and Brad Keller. Miller sports a 1.98 ERA in 37 appearances this year, with eight holds, and 40 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings pitched entering Tuesday. After A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez also went down with surgeries of their own, Miller stepped into the closer job and collected 10 saves in 2025. But forearm injuries never bode well for pitchers, and it looks like the Snakes are about to suffer another major blow to their pitching staff.

At 34 years old, Miller could be done for the season depending on his prognosis. The veteran hurler has spent parts of 13 seasons in the Majors, including as a starter for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves in the early part of his career. He also briefly appeared in three games for the Cubs during the 2021 season.

Arizona still has players to offer besides the injured Shelby Miller

Even with Miller on the shelf, the Diamondbacks are still an intriguing potential trade partner for the Cubs. Starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are playing on expiring contracts. Although Kelly has been much more effective with a 3.55 ERA in 104 innings this year, Gallen has shown signs of ace-level stuff in his career and he is still eating innings and striking out hitters at a respectable clip (22.7 percent). Either man would be a welcome addition to the Cubs' rotation down the stretch, especially with Jameson Taillon hitting the injured list for at least the next month.

If the Cubs want to upgrade their already potent offense, Eugenio Suarez would be an intriguing option. Although his defense is arguably worse than Matt Shaw's at third base, Suarez is currently having an outrageous year at the plate with 74 RBI and 28 home runs (he hit 30 in 2024) before the All-Star break.