Jump to content
North Side Baseball

  • Rumors

    Trade and free agent rumors posted here.

    171 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Chicago Cubs could be ready to take advantage of the New York Mets' miserable start to the season.

      According to a report, the Cubs are interested in acquiring ace right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Mets.

      Peralta, a free agent after the season, has already been traded once this year, going from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Mets in a four-player trade in which New York gave up a pair of top-five prospects in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat.

      This time, Peralta's price would be lower as the acquiring team would not be able to get draft-pick compensation through the qualifying offer. A qualifying offer can only be extended to a player who is with a team for the full season.

      The report mentioned that the Mets are holding on to Peralta until at least June 1, at which time the team will reevaluate its position on Peralta and other tradeable assets.

      The Cubs are in the market for at least one starting pitcher as they currently have three of their projected four Opening Day starters on the injured list, including Cade Horton being out for the season.

      Peralta has ties to both teams from his Brewers days. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns led Milwaukee's front office while Peralta was on the roster and Cubs manager Craig Counsell was Peralta's manager in Milwaukee.

      Peralta will be one of the top free agents available this offseason.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The competition for right-handed starter Lucas Giolito is heating up, which means there could be a decision soon on one of the top free agents from this past offseason.

      According to The Athletic on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are the top contenders to land the 2019 All-Star who has yet to find a home despite a moderately successful 2025, his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Giolito had a 4.17 FIP (3.41 ERA) in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last year.

       

      The Cubs and padres are in need of fortifying their starting rotations.

       

      The Cubs are in a more precarious situation at the moment. Right-hander Cade Horton, last year's NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his right UCL in the latest blow to an injury-ravaged staff. Left-hander Matthew Boyd, the Cubs' Opening Day starter who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left biceps, is slated to have one rehab appearance before rejoining the rotation next week.

      Padres Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta left Sunday's game with stiffness in his right elbow. More on his fate, which is likely to include a trip to the injured list, could be revealed Tuesday.

      Giolito, who had three top-11 finishes in AL Cy Young Award voting (2019-2021) with the Chicago White Sox, is a Southern California native who has said he has been throwing bullpen sessions of 75 pitches to stay in shape and hasn't signed because no team has met his price.

       

      Brian Kelder

      According to USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, the Cubs have signed veteran reliever Aaron Bummer to a minor-league contract.

      Bummer was released from the Atlanta Braves in his third season there after struggling to a 7.63 ERA in 19 appearances. In 2025, he was much more successful, striking out almost a batter per inning with a 3.52 ERA. 

      Bummer returns to Chicago, where he debuted back in 2017. For his career, his ERA is 3.44 with a 1.34 WHIP. His velocity has slipped in his age-32 season down to 90 mph from 93 just two seasons ago.

      Fans shouldn’t expect much, but he could play a role in Chicago if he can limit hard contact and walks. He’ll look to recapture his career success in Iowa’s bullpen.

      Brian Kelder

      Veteran Hoby Milner has hit the IL with appendicitis. His place is being filled by Gavin Hollowell.

      An unbelievable stretch of Cubs pitching injuries continues. Ben Brown (neck) and Edward Cabrera (splits, hamstring) went down this week, as did closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) and walking-earned run Phil Maton (ego, knee).

      The Cubs will continue to play games, with or without healthy pitchers. The staff is reeling, and at this point, all you can do is chuckle.

       

      Brian Kelder

      The Chicago Cubs and 35-year-old reliever Ty Blach have signed a minor-league deal, and he will report to Triple-A Iowa. The news was first reported by Tommy Birch:

      Blach last pitched in the major leagues for Colorado in 2022-2024. In his last season for the Rockies, his ERA was an elevated 6.94 with a 1.70 WHIP. Blach's most successful stretch came from 2016-2018 for the San Francisco Giants, where he threw 299 innings with a 4.36 ERA. In 2025, Blach toiled in the minors in the Rangers' system. 

      Last season, Blach pitched 56 innings with a respectable 3.58 ERA. Command is his hallmark; the fastball doesn't top 89 on average. With such a slow fastball, his seven percent walk rate and 46% ground ball rate are important to his success. If he can limit hard contact, Blach could play a role at some point this season.

      In a season where the Cubs have eight pitchers on the IL, and two already lost to season-ending UCL injuries, Blach will serve as depth if needed in Chicago. The Cubs likely won't need him, but if injuries continue at this pace the signing could pay dividends. 

      Brian Kelder

      Matthew Boyd threw a bullpen session on Sunday and will make his second rehab start in Iowa later this week. Boyd, on the IL with a bicep injury, seems to have dodged a long-term issue. If all goes well, he'll be slated to pitch next week in a home series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.

      Boyd's return will bolster a pitching staff that has been beset with injuries. Cade Horton is done for the season, and the bullpen lost Phil Maton (knee) and Hunter Harvey (arm) for a period of time. Their absence is particularly troublesome with the Cubs about to play 13 games in 13 days. 

      Brian Kelder

      The Cubs in the past few days have added a couple of relief options to their system. 

      First from Dodgers reporter Fabian Ardaya. Ignore the Glasnow part unless you own him in fantasy, and the second sentence has it. 

      Antoine Kelly has not pitched in the major leagues after beginning his career in 2019. This season, he's toiled in Triple-A Albuquerque, struggling to a 5.14 ERA in 21 innings pitched. In 2025 he was in the Rockies' system and performed similarly with a slightly worse 5.63 ERA. Kelly was acquired for cash considerations and will report to Triple-A Iowa, where he'll look to get his chance given all of the injuries the Cubs' staff has had.

      And second, from the Des Moines Register's Andrew Birch:

      Wantz, age 30, started in the Los Angeles Angels' system, toggling between the majors and minors since his debut in 2021. The Rays picked him up in 2024 after an elbow injury, and he was let go after allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings on Saturday. 

      Wantz does have some success in the highest level, striking out 127 in 120 innings pitched over his career. His strikeout rate has dipped though, and he will look to increase his metrics and his success in Iowa to start. If he can, there are ample opportunities to contribute to the big club if Wantz can handle it.

      Brian Kelder

      According to this article from The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, Justin Steele is progressing from his elbow setback. While the veteran lefty is not throwing as of yet, he is progressing to some strengthening exercises. There is no timeline as of yet for his eventual return to throwing and a rehab assignment.

      The updated timeline puts any 2026 return for Steele in jeopardy. In a best-case scenario, he starts throwing again in June, with a lengthy ramp-up. This would potentially allow him to pitch in August, given no setbacks. Another flare-up of the elbow would end his season.

      Basically, the Cubs can't count on Steele to carry them down the stretch, which, given the state of the current rotation, would help the team a lot. Edward Cabrera is currently sidelined with blisters and has a checkered injury history. Matthew Boyd is no spring chicken either and has only pitched over 100 innings once this decade. Arms are always needed in a season, and the Cubs are no exception.

      Despite consternation about the Cubs' hitting, the rotation is the area with the lowest floor on the roster. Justin Steele will continue his own path to health. The Cubs need to hope this path leads to the mound in 2026. 

      Brian Kelder

      According to Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic, the Chicago Cubs are signing Liam Hendriks to a minor-league deal.

      Hendricks, now 37, has been a free agent since the Minnesota Twins granted his release. The righty pitcher's velocity was down to 93.4 miles per hour; it peaked in 2022 at 97. For Boston last year, he tallied a 6.59 ERA in 13.2 innings.

      It's purely an upside play that Hendricks has one more year to squeeze out of his arm. Since 2022, injuries and health have dominated Hendricks' story. He overcame cancer, only to succumb to Tommy John surgery in his return season.

      With numerous relievers on the shelf, the Cubs will look to catch lightning in a bottle with Liam Hendricks. He was one of the most dominant relievers in the sport from 2018-2022 and the Cubs will look to unlock some more magic for their late innings. 

      Brian Kelder

      Craig Counsell had bad news for fans hoping Justin Steele could return soon and bolster the beleaguered pitching staff on 104.3 The Score.

      Brutal news all around. Steele, eligible to come off the 60-day injured list at the end of May, has a flexor strain in his left arm. He will be shut down for at least two weeks while the Cubs and his medical team determine the injury severity and next steps. 

      Realistically, this takes Steele out of the rotation mix for most of this season, and at least the majority of the first half. Even a best-case scenario at this point would mean he starts a lengthy rehab assignment toward the end of June, which could maybe position him for a post-All-Star-Break season debut.

      Brian Kelder

      According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, Jordan Wicks will get another chance to prove himself this weekend.

      Wicks gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start, but with Matthew Boyd needing a rehab start, Wicks will toe the mound at least one more time. 

      His numbers in Triple A Iowa were stellar in 2026: 12 strikeouts in 15 innings while allowing just seven hits and one earned run. The 26-year-old lefty is running out of time to cement a role in the Cubs staff, both this season and long term. He’ll need a good performance to regain momentum against the Cardinals this weekend.
       

      Brian Kelder

      According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have acquired Nicky Lopez from the Colorado organization:

      Lopez has played this season for the Rockies' Triple-A squad, batting .333 with a home run in 54 at=bats. Last season, Lopez did play for the Cubs, but was ineffective at the plate with just one hit in 18 at-bats. 

      The Cubs are looking for infield depth and a late-inning defensive replacement. There hasn't been a corresponding move, so it seems as if Lopez will start his time with the Iowa Cubs, not the big-league squad. He can play across the infield. Given the ineffectiveness Scott Kingery has displayed thus far, manager Craig Counsell may opt for Lopez going forward to improve the team's defensive depth. 

      Brian Kelder

      Matt Shaw is ready to return to Chicago, according to ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers:

      Shaw, nursing a sore back, will replace Kevin Alcantara on the big league roster. Currently, Shaw is hitting .242 with a .297 OBP in part-time work for the Cubs. In four rehab games, he hit .286 with a .375 OBP and zero home runs. Shaw will look to give struggling regulars like Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner, and Dansby Swanson some rest as well as logging time in the outfield, where he played some in his brief rehab stint.

      Alcantara played sparingly in his 17 games in Chicago, and his baserunning gaffe late in Sunday's game likely was the last straw for manager Craig Counsell. He'll take a .111 batting average with him and look to further develop in Iowa, where he'll have consistent playing time.

      Brock Beauchamp

      According to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun Times, Marcus Stroman discussed an extension with the Cubs during Spring Training.

      Stroman, 32, has the ability to opt out of his three-year, $71 million deal after the season. Given how Stroman has pitched so far this season, the opt out seems likely should the pitcher remain healthy during the season.

      What kind of deal would you expect Stroman to receive in an extension? And what is a good comp for the diminutive hurler?

      By the way, this is the first piece from our new free agent and trade rumors section. You can find a link to this page in the Cubs Resources widget on the forum index page.

      Brock Beauchamp

      It sure is easy to hate East Coast media. I guess it's technically true that Bellinger would be a good fit on the Yankees but the Cubs are rolling right now! I know he writes for the NY Post and panders to his audience but given that the Cubs play in the second-worst division in baseball, are 3.5 games behind the Reds (of all teams), and are currently 8-2 over their last ten makes a mention of Bellinger feel more like wishcasting than useful information.

       

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      Speaking to fans and journalists before the start of the London series versus the Cardinals, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts says the Cubs are buyers right now. He later walked that back a bit, saying it's possible that changes with a team collapse. Given the relative weakness of the National League Central and the Cubs playing red-hot baseball over the past couple of weeks, it seems rather unlikely they fall out of contention for the division title over the next several weeks.

      The article points out that the infield corners and bullpen are the most obvious holes to patch at the deadline. Who should the Cubs target at the deadline?

      Brock Beauchamp

      Writing for The Athletic, Jon Heyman has reported that the Cubs are not pursuing an extension of Marcus Stroman before the trade deadline. Hoyer seems to employ a "wait and see" approach and has stated that the Cubs aren't interested in negotiating with a player during the season.

      Stroman is a wild card and maybe that's leading to there being more rumors swirling around this than usual for a player in Stroman's situation, holding an opt-out clause in his contract after the completion of the 2023 season. Stroman is known for taking matters into his own hands, openly speaking about his contract situation and seemingly wanting to extend with the Cubs, though surely more on his terms than the team's. Ever the self-promoter, this may end up working in the right-hander's favor as contract time comes, as he has shown an ability to keep himself center stage and rally fans behind him, particularly given his stellar performance in 2023.

      Rex Buckingham

      Mike Trout fractured his hamate bone, which means he will be on the injured list through at least the trade deadline and possibly considerably longer than that.

      CBS Sports mentioned that Cody Bellinger is a possible replacement for an injured Trout.

      The Cubs have a difficult decision to make in Bellinger. If they're interested in offering him the qualifying offer, they can retain Bellinger in 2024 for roughly $20m or, if he declines the offer, Chicago can receive a supplemental draft pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

      It should be noted that the Angels have a notoriously weak farm system, ranked 28th by MLB.com going into the 2023 season.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors compiled an early July top 50 trade candidates list and the Cubs have two players in the top 11 and five players in the top 50 overall.*

      *obviously, this assumes the Cubs will in fact be selling at the deadline

      Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger lead the Cubs' portion of the list but Michael Fulmer, Yan Gomes, and Kyle Hendricks also make the list.

      The Cubs have compelling pieces that other teams will want to acquire, how aggressively should they sell if it comes to that point?

      Brock Beauchamp

      To be clear, I don't have anything about Nolan Arenado, he seems like a perfectly reasonable chap who was kinda done dirty by the Colorado Rockies (though being forcibly booted out of that organization is something of a blessing). Jon Heyman asked him a few questions the other day and Arenado says he isn't expecting a trade but wouldn't be surprised by one, either.

      Things are bleak in St Louis. The Cardinals aren't used to losing like this and it appears no one really knows how to handle their current struggles. Things were obviously very wrong when Marmol heaved Willson Contreras under the bus and while the Cards have put together a couple of small winning streaks, they've gone right back to losing again afterward.

      Truth be told, I hadn't even considered an Arenado trade. While he's aging toward his mid-30s, he's still very productive with the bat and his contract is quite reasonable through 2027, given that the Rockies are on the hook for $5 million per year for the next three years.

      It's quite obvious the Cardinals will be selling but to what extent?

      Brock Beauchamp

      USA Today's Bob Nightengale mentioned that the Astros have checked in with the Cubs about Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger.

      Starting pitching always has high demand at the trade deadline but it appears there are several teams that should be interested in acquiring a right-handed center fielder who can hit; along with the Astros, the Yankees and Twins are two contenders with gaping holes at center.

      Bellinger is also making a hell of a case for maximum return as a rental: over the past 14 days, he has posted a 1.357 OPS with five home runs and is on pace for a 5+ win season over 550 plate appearances.

      Brock Beauchamp

      It's becoming rapidly apparent that the Cubs have two of the hottest commodities on the trade deadline market in Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger, especially with the Angels gaining new life and sweeping the Yankees, returning to the fringes of the American League Wild Card race.

      During an episode of the Onto Waveland Podcast (29 minute mark), it is mentioned that while the Rays do not appear to be interested in Cody Bellinger, they are interested in acquiring Stroman.

      The Rays are floundering a bit lately, losing their season-long hold on first place in the American League East. They need starting pitching and have a farm system that is miles-deep in typical Rays fashion.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Yesterday, catcher Jose Trevino had season-ending wrist surgery, leaving a roster vacancy on the New York Yankees.

      The Yankees have several moving pieces, which complicate the situation for them. First, they're 3.0 games back of the final Wild Card berth. It's hard to envision the Yankees packing it in and giving up entirely but they may not focus on upgrading at catcher in favor of shoring up other positions.

      First, they have top prospect Austin Wells in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He's 24 years old and while he's not having a great offensive season, it's entirely possible the Yankees could consider him good enough for a stretch run.

      Another complicating factor is the remaining Yankee catcher, Kyle Higashioka. He is 33 years old and also having a down year offensively, posting a 75 OPS+ over 61 games.

      Yan Gomes is controlled through the 2024 season and is under a very reasonable $6 million contract for 2023. He's also having a very nice offensive season for a catcher, currently sporting a 96 OPS+ over 63 games for the Cubs.

×
×
  • Create New...