Why Cubs Have Talked About 3 Buy-Low Starters Mired in Minor Leagues

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Despite varying levels of need, none of Jonah Tong, Andrew Painter or Braxton Garrett are even on the major-league roster of their NL East clubs right now. Yet, each have been subjects of inquiry by the Cubs ahead of Monday's trade deadline, as the team seeks ways to build a playoff-caliber starting rotation both now and for the balance of the decade. Sources familiar with the conversations said Chicago has sounded out several teams on hurlers under long-term team control, in creatively structured isolated deals or as part of larger packages.

If the Cubs and Mets get together on a trade that nets the North Siders any of Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Luke Weaver or Huascar Brazobán, Tong (or fellow minor-league assignee Tobias Myers) could also be part of the deal. For New York, adding a controllable arm to the deal would give access to the Cubs' top tier of young assets (other than Josiah Hartshorn, who's viewed as essentially untouchable during this period). For Chicago, getting a controllable arm as well as immediate help would soften the blow of shipping out a top prospect. Although Tong and Myers would each be longer-term plays, it's also possible that each could help the Cubs before the end of this season.

The story is similar with Garrett, whose return from December 2024 Tommy John surgery has not gone smoothly. The Cubs have long had some level of interest in Sandy Alcantara, but the team might also try to scoop up Pete Fairbanks in a low-cost move while finding their immediate starting help elsewhere. If the Marlins want to get anything of value in return for Fairbanks, they could include Garrett, a lefty under medium-term team control whom the Cubs believe would improve under their care. A swap that nets Chicago Garrett would have to include a good young player going to Miami, but it would be a cheaper move than dealing for Reid Detmers or José Soriano.

A trade for Painter is less likely, because the Phillies are likely to dangle him to teams who can directly give them offensive help, a source said. However, a variety of three-team possibilities could lead to the Cubs ending up with Painter, while they send a prospect or young big-leaguer to a seller who forwards a (probably) outfielder to Philadelphia.

Like Detmers and Soriano, Garrett has just two years of team control left after this season. He also won't be eligible to be optioned to the minors next season, although the Cubs' belief is that they wouldn't need to consider that, anyway. Painter and Tong wiull each have six more years of team control after this year and multiple option years remaining; Myers falls in the middle. He'll have four more years of team control left, but can't be optioned beginning next spring. They represent a wide spectrum of possible approaches for the Cubs, who are keeping as many options open as possible. Many of the partners with whom they hope to engage on trades are still vacillating between buying and selling, or looking to do some of each. In a sense, the Cubs are, too, as they try not to leave themselves too much work to do this winter. If the right opportunity arises, they'll pounce on a chance to improve the 2027 and 2028 rotations, but the present is the top priority, so moves like these will happen only once they have enough clarity to be sure they won't compromise their efforts to prepare for October.

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[Tryptamine]

Depending on the cost, I would love love love to have Jonah Tong. He's a stuff monster who has just lost it mechanically this year. I'd obviously love Painter too, but I can't imagine the Phillies selling low on him at this point. 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I think these are guys you target in the offseason.