Mooney: "Chicago Cubs remain focused, for now, on internal solutions"

[Matthew Lenz]

The Chicago Cubs rotation took a big hit when their ace suffered a season ending injury to his throwing elbow and forearm. Here at NSBB, we speculated on five external options that the team could pursue to replace Steele at the top of the rotation. However, earlier this week Patrick Mooney of The Athletic that the team would be pursuing internal options (for now).

Within the report, Steele's rotation mate Matthew Boyd was quoted as saying "We have a very talented rotation. We have guys that can step up and perform in those roles. We’re excited for that." Aside from sounding like he has a future in an organization's front office, Boyd emphasizes that the team has the "next man up mentality". 

Currently, Colin Rea looks to be the fill-in although Javier Assad may be the more permanent solution. Assad is reportedly close to returning and appears to be the initial predecessor for the job given the Cubs four off days between today (Thursday, April 17th and April 28th).

Mooney goes on to report that Cade Horton, the Cubs no. 7 pick in the 2022 draft and one of the team's top prospects,  is one arm to keep an eye on. The 24-year-old right hander does have injury concerns, though his "staff and athleticism" has "wowed" Cubs official leading them to use such high draft capital on the Oklahoma product. In three Triple-A starts, he has 16.7% K-BB rate and a 4.11 FIP due to command issues across 12 1/3 innings.

If those options don't pan out or if more injuries strike, Mooney points to the depth of hitting prospects that could be packaged to swing a blockbuster deal.

If you're in the Cubs front office, how are you trying to replace Justin Steele?

View full rumor

[Bull]

How 'bout now?

[squally1313]

Teams with a less than 10% chance of making the playoffs and their good, potentially attainable starting pitchers:

• White Sox - No one
• Angels - No one
• Nats - Mackenzie Gore (two more years of arbitration, would cost a lot, would be another lefty, is very good at pitching), Trevor Williams (historically more of an innings eater, but 3.35/3.26/3.91 in 102 innings in 2024 and 2025, $7m this year and next)
• Marlins - Sandy Alcantara (has been BAD this year, and not in an unlucky way, but an elite pitcher the three eyars before this, $11m this year and next year with a club option for 2027)
• Pirates - Andrew Heaney (saw him last week, another lefty, wouldn't classify him as anything better than a #3 but cheap and not signed past this year), Mitch Keller (generally good in a Jameson Taillon type way, but trending in the wrong direction and owed $15m a year for the next three years)
• Rockies - Getting bored of this but...Marquez hasn't been good since 2021, so unless he's been mailing it in for the last 240 IPs and it's still in there, pass. Freeland is probably actually bad and not just Coors Field bad, but his type plays up in front of our defense I guess?

[Bertz]

This July I want Jed to take a big swing for someone with team control.  Someone like Mackenzie Gore or Joe Ryan.  A foundational piece and someone not set to hit FA after '26 like half the team.

For now though?  Like Squally laid out the absolute best case is an Andrew Heaney type.  You're probably talking someone not too much better than Chris Flexen.  Just stick with internal options like Horton or Wicks.  You're getting some valuable developmental opportunity and you're probably not leaving a ton of production on the table.

[Post Count Padder]

17 hours ago, Bertz said:

This July I want Jed to take a big swing for someone with team control.  Someone like Mackenzie Gore or Joe Ryan.  A foundational piece and someone not set to hit FA after '26 like half the team.

For now though?  Like Squally laid out the absolute best case is an Andrew Heaney type.  You're probably talking someone not too much better than Chris Flexen.  Just stick with internal options like Horton or Wicks.  You're getting some valuable developmental opportunity and you're probably not leaving a ton of production on the table.

I was eyeing Joe Ryan in the offseason. He'd be a hell of a pickup at the deadline. 

But agreed that for now we should work with what we have. 

[imb]

heaney would be a smart pickup

[Rcal10]

1 hour ago, imb said:

heaney would be a smart pickup

If he is cheap I guess so. But I would like to see them aim higher than him.