Rumored Cubs trade deadline target hits the IL with a shoulder issue

It was an eventful weekend for the Kansas City Royals - to put it mildly. In a span of 24 hours, the team acquired Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks, placed rookie Jac Caglione on the IL, signed reigning AL Cy Young Award runner-up Seth Lugo to a contract extension and lost left-hander Kris Bubic to a rotator cuff injury that led to him hitting the 15-day IL.

The Lugo extension (two years, $46 million and a vesting option) certainly stole the show, kicking off trade deadline week in dramatic fashion, but that wasn't the only of those events that had an impact on Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs.

Cubs dodge a bullet with Royals' Kris Bubic hitting the 15-day IL

Chicago has been connected to both Lugo and Bubic for weeks, with Hoyer reportedly hitting pause on talks between the Cubs and Royals after the left-hander's fastball velocity dropped in his first start of the second half. That move proved to be especially prudent after the All-Star left his Saturday start against Cleveland, saying, "Physically, something's not right."

On Sunday, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left rotator cuff strain, taking him off the board as a potential trade piece for a Royals team that entered Monday with a minuscule 12.1 percent chance of making the postseason, according to Fangraphs.

Through 20 starts this year, the 27-year-old Cupertino, CA native has been sensational for the Royals, working to a 2.55 ERA and MLB-best 0.5 HR/9 in 20 starts. But his breakout season will, at the very least, be put on pause as he works his way back from the shoulder injury. Under control via arbitration for one more year, there's a chance Bubic is a hot commodity this time next year if Kansas City finds itself out of contention given he'll be a rental in 2026.

Chicago remains connected to just about every available starting pitcher out there, including Joe Ryan, Edward Cabrera and MacKenzie Gore. All would command steep returns in a trade, but could set the Cubs up for a legitimate run in October. With a powerful offense already in place, a revamped pitching staff could be the difference between a quick exit and a real run at the team's second World Series appearance inside the last decade.