Cubs Need Pitching As MLB Trade Deadline Looms

[Brock Beauchamp]

Two things are clear as August nears: The Cubs are contenders, but they need more pitching. What will they do at the trade deadline?

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[Victor Reichman]

Dean Kremer of Baltimore as Balt won't make playoffs and he won't be expensive. Not a top tier pitcher but has good stuff.

[Jason Ross]

23 minutes ago, Victor Reichman said:

Dean Kremer of Baltimore as Balt won't make playoffs and he won't be expensive. Not a top tier pitcher but has good stuff.

He's alright. But I'm not really sure what issue he solves other than being "available". He's running an xERA well above his actual ERA in his few starts this year. He throws a neutral amount of flyballs/groundballs, so he won't really take advantage of the Cubs defense on the infield to help beat his xdata. He's a career 4.43 xFIP pitcher, his velo sits 93mph, has a career 20% K%  (which, yes he's at 28% this year, but it's under 30 innings and I'll say I don't believe it).

He may be a better version of Colin Rea/Javier Assad/Jameson Taillon if you're believing he's really changed something, and that has value. But I wouldn't feel confident with Kremer starting a playoff game. And the Cubs have those three already and what they really need to do is upgrade and add a third playoff arm to go with Shota and Boyd. So I'd ultimately be a pass on Kremer. The Cubs need to aim higher. 

Maybe they have a rash of injuries between today and later in that group of guys at the end of the rotation, but unless that happens, the Cubs' would be fine with two of those guys in the rotation until (hopefully) one of Cabrera or Brown return.