Top 5 Justin Steele Replacements to Keep an Eye On for the Chicago Cubs

[Andrew Wright]

The North Siders' co-ace will miss the rest of the season after undergoing elbow surgery. Ideally, the team will reinforce their rotation with a replacement for him. Who could that be?

Image courtesy of © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Justin Steele was placed on the 15-day IL just two days after his start with left elbow tendinitis. Steele said that he hoped it would be a short stay on the shelf, and he planned on being back as soon as possible. That, unfortunately, was not to be. After gathering multiple opinions, Steele was recommended for the scalpel.

It is a huge blow to a Cubs rotation that has been surprisingly good in the early going, but will now have to rely on Shota Imanaga and the rest of the staff to carry them through the season. It's a bit optimistic to think that a rotation of Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Ben Brown, Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad and Cade Horton can carry the Cubs to a division title and postseason appearance. Because of that, here are five players who could be headed to Chicago as a result of Steele's injury.

Sandy Alcántara (Miami Marlins)
Alcántara is the most obvious of the players on this list, as he is on a bad Marlins team that will certainly look to capitalize off his value if he is putting together another season like the ones he's had in the past. Alcántara has been mentioned in trade rumors in the past, but this feels like the year he could finally be moved. He is owed just $34.6 million over the next two seasons, making his contract an extremely favorable one for a pitcher of his caliber. Alcántara could instantly come in and give the Cubs a top-tier duo in the rotation, along with Imanaga.

Pablo López (Minnesota Twins)
López was linked to the Cubs in the offseason, and with Minnesota off to one of its worst starts in franchise history, the time may finally be right for the Twins to move him. In 16 2/3 innings so far in 2025, López has pitched to a 1.62 ERA with 14 strikeouts. He's coming off seasons with 234 and 198 strikeouts. The swing-and-miss stuff would be much needed in replacement of Steele, and he could be a very big addition for Chicago.

Marcus Stroman (New York Yankees)
Yes, Stroman has been awful to start the 2025 season. He is also on the injured list with knee issues, but it is obvious that he does not want to be in New York any longer. Stroman feeds off the big crowds and the energy, and he would most likely be welcome back to Chicago and Wrigley Field with open arms. He had two successful years with the Cubs in 2022 and 2023, and a return to the Cubs could get his career back on track. He could be instrumental down the stretch in a playoff push.

Martín Pérez (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pérez is the first left-hander to make the list, and he would be an intriguing fit. While he is not a frontline starter like Alcántara and López, he is a veteran arm who's been around the game a long time and is still capable of putting together solid outings. Even on days when he is not at his best, Pérez is still able to go deeper into a game than expected and can save a Cubs bullpen that has been shaky to start the season. Pérez would likely slot into the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the Cubs rotation and could be one of the biggest under-the-radar moves of the entire season.

Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves)
A guy can dream, right? While there is only about a 1% chance that the Braves continue their horrendous play, it's still a higher chance than zero. With his rough start to the season (0-2, 6.63 ERA). Sale could be on the move if Atlanta continues to struggle going into the summer months. Sale won the NL Cy Young in 2024, and that pitcher is still in there somewhere. An acquisition of Sale would shake up the baseball world and give Chicago two pitchers who finished Top-5 in Cy Young voting in 2024.

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[ryanrc]

interesting thoughts but...

I'd rather go to Brown for now, until Assad is ready. Horton for a bit later. This rotation will do the job....

Imanaga

Assad

Boyd

Taillon

Rea 

....

And then Horton and Brown. We are stuck with Taillon and he keeps bouncing back from adversity. Boyd is outpitching Steele anyhow- if he stays healthy he's the guy. Assad and Rea both throw 5 pitches and can keep us in the game. Brown looks like the future swingman not a starter. He may need AAA time to find another pitch. 

Keller is the early inning fix it guy. 

Horton will eventually force his way  to the rotation. 

 

If Assad is a basketcase, go straight to Horton. 

 

Edited April 16, 2025 by ryanrc