Random trade speculation

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7483744/2026/07/31/cubs-bullpen-injuries-trade-deadline/

Fun read.  Adrian Morejon gets a lot of ink

Morejon with Steele, Harvey, Brown, and Palencia could be an actually good bullpen

[mk49]

I just hope whoever a new SP we get will be at least as good as Shota and Boyd for the Cubs.  They've been pitching very well lately.

[JD94]

Somebody tell Minnesota you’re only allowed to makes trades in the very last hour before the deadline 

[Bertz]

I'd be aghast if the Cubs settled for Kremer but as someone who thinks HR/FB rates are mostly RNG he's a nifty pickup for a bubble team like the Twins.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I still can't believe the Twins are buying.

[Geographyhater8888]

10 hours ago, mk49 said:

I just hope whoever a new SP we get will be at least as good as Shota and Boyd for the Cubs.  They've been pitching very well lately.

Someone at least as good as Boyd. Shota is fine, but I’d be disappointed if we landed someone with a similar profile. 

[Neuby]

The Cubs are going big  game hunting , prepare to be glued to your twitter feed until Monday............... 

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, Neuby said:

The Cubs are going big  game hunting , prepare to be glued to your twitter feed until Monday............... 

Are they? 🤷 To be honest, I wouldn’t be shocked if they came away with a similar deadline as last year. Lots of talk and just not being able to complete a big deal. But if they do complete a big deal I fully expect a lot of fans not liking it. IMO any big deal will only happen with a huge overpay in the eyes of the fans. It is going to hurt.
Keep in mind this is not be criticizing Jed for not making a big move. This is just what I think is happening at all deadlines now. Teams selling big time guys asking more than teams buying are willing to pay. But if one does pay it will be a lot. Honestly, I hope I am wrong. But we shall see. 

[Bertz]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/mlb-trades-deadline-2026-rumors-transactions-analysis/wFlwrdzNLbnb/

 

Quote

Ideally, the Cubs want to add three pitchers before Monday’s deadline, according to a person briefed on their thinking - two starters and a reliever or two relievers and a starter. All that might not be possible, but the supply of both rotation and bullpen options is plentiful, creating numerous possibilities.

Two starters LFG

[We Got The Whole 9]

Two starters and use Cabrera in the pen

[KCCub]

 

[Jason Ross]

13 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Kirby is another guy that would benefit from a better defense, the Mariners have one of the worst in the league.

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Kirby is another guy that would benefit from a better defense, the Mariners have one of the worst in the league.

His arm slot is out of whack too. He was sitting 36-37 degrees, then dipped to 29 last year and back to 34. 

[Funky-daddy]

Someone on reddit was saying Kirby used to get a ton of calls at the top of the zone before ABS. Not sure if that’s true but would much rather pony up for Greene and a good bullpen arm personally 

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, Funky-daddy said:

Someone on reddit was saying Kirby used to get a ton of calls at the top of the zone before ABS. Not sure if that’s true but would much rather pony up for Greene and a good bullpen arm personally 

He's in the zone the same amount and getting the same amount of 1st pitch strikes. His whiff% is down but getting normal chase%. His fastball is in the zone more, but even with ABS, the zone he's throwing that pitch is further down than it was last year. So while ABS might change it a wee bit, the zone has gotten taller for hitters and he's more in the zone, so I don't think it's an ABS thing, and just a small mechanical thing.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Two starters is just silly.  In an ideal world, sure, but this isn't an ideal world.  They need one very good starter.  No more depth pitchers.

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Two starters is just silly.  In an ideal world, sure, but this isn't an ideal world.  They need one very good starter.  No more depth pitchers.

My guess is the 2nd SP isn't going to be ground breaking. Like a Tyler Mahle. Cheap but offers another depth option in the event someone gets hurt. It would also likely upgrade over Rea. I don't think it affects the pursuit of an impact SP or RP to get Mahle or someone of his ilk.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Two starters is just silly.  In an ideal world, sure, but this isn't an ideal world.  They need one very good starter.  No more depth pitchers.

Eh, agree somewhat, but their third starter currently is Colin Rea. Cabrera is hurt and when healthy was getting squared up every time out, we know Steele won’t be starting when he returns, and as much as I would love to lock in May/June Ben Brown when he returns, that’s a gigantic question mark.

Boyd and Shota wore down at the end of last year. Soroka and Horton went down post-deadline after it was too late to add anyone of substance.

I agree they don’t need depth pitchers (Rea, Assad, Peterson are your depth pitchers in an ideal scenario), but grabbing two starters you can count on in the playoffs given all of the above isn’t silly. I don’t think it’s a necessity, but I do think it would be wise. There are other scenarios I could talk myself into, but I’m far more comfortable with the cavalry of injured pitchers serving as bullpen reinforcements and going big on the rotation.

[Adipost]

My guess is they get Clay Holmes and one of their relievers in a package deal.  Zombro has a relationship with Holmes, he even had Ben Brown train with him in the offseason.  I believe Holmes helped Brown develop his splitter.

[Jason Ross]

Doval is an interesting low buy option here. We won't see him now this weekend and we're starting to see a small trickle of trades. 

#15 in Pirates system and an unranked on FG.

[Adipost]

6 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Doval is an interesting low buy option here. We won't see him now this weekend and we're starting to see a small trickle of trades. 

#15 in Pirates system and an unranked on FG.

I have a friend who is a die hard Yankees fan.  Yanks fans hate this dude with a passion lol

[Derwood]

20 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Doval is an interesting low buy option here. We won't see him now this weekend and we're starting to see a small trickle of trades. 

#15 in Pirates system and an unranked on FG.

Dude has insane home/road splits

[Rcal10]

26 minutes ago, Adipost said:

My guess is they get Clay Holmes and one of their relievers in a package deal.  Zombro has a relationship with Holmes, he even had Ben Brown train with him in the offseason.  I believe Holmes helped Brown develop his splitter.

I can see something like this depending on what the Mets are looking for. 

[KCCub]