What's Next For the Cubs After Acquiring Kevin Gausman?

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The Cubs knew they needed to improve their pitching staff before the trade deadline, and they made one of the biggest splashes of the weekend by acquiring Kevin Gausman. Landing one of the best starting pitchers available immediately raises the level of Chicago's rotation as the club pushes toward what it hopes will be a deep postseason run. Gausman gives the team another proven veteran near the top of the rotation and forms a formidable trio alongside Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga. It's exactly the type of move contenders make. But if the Cubs truly believe they can win the World Series this season—especially after Tarik Skubal landed with the Dodgers—they can't afford to stop here. So what comes next for Chicago?

For starters, don't rule out another addition to the rotation. Even after bringing in Gausman, there are still plenty of intriguing starting pitchers available. Rental starters Trevor Rogers and Casey Mize and controllable arms Reid Detmers and José Soriano all remain names to watch as the deadline approaches. Gausman undoubtedly makes the Cubs better, but he doesn't completely solve their biggest problem.

October baseball is all about pitching depth. A memorable postseason run involves at least 10 games, and having only three healthy, reliable starters isn't usually enough. Whether it's another frontline arm or simply someone capable of giving quality innings every fifth day, another rotation addition would go a long way toward solidifying Chicago's chances. Just as important, though, is the bullpen.

The Cubs' relief corps has been battered by injuries for much of the season, leaving coverage of the late innings as the biggest question mark on the roster. Even if everyone were healthy, bullpen help should still be near the top of the priority list. Pitching wins games in October, and one blown lead can be the difference between advancing to the next round and heading home for the winter. Championship-caliber teams rarely regret adding another dependable late-inning reliever, and the Cubs shouldn't be any different. Standing pat isn't a reasonable option.

Fortunately for Chicago, the relief market remains loaded with talent. While it may not be the most likely outcome, Mason Miller (DiamondCentric’s top player available, though just how available he actually is is up for debate) could at least be worth checking in on. Even if Miller isn't ultimately the answer, there are still several impact relievers who could make sense.

His teammate, Adrián Morejón, has been floated as a potential Cubs target for weeks and would immediately strengthen the bullpen with another high-leverage left-handed option. Luke Weaver, Drew Anderson, and Kenley Jansen are also among the recognizable names that could be available. Several other late-inning arms could realistically change teams before the deadline, giving Chicago plenty of opportunities to reinforce one of the few remaining weaknesses on its roster.

It's also possible Jed Hoyer isn't finished making changes to the lineup. The Cubs have been connected to both buying and selling position players ahead of the deadline, or at least to creative trade ideas that could include swapping out one big-leaguer for another. Matt Shaw, currently sidelined by injury, appears likely to remain in Chicago, but Pedro Ramírez could be a big part of a trade package. Given how important he's become to the team's offense, such a move would force the team to at least consider adding a bat.

Obviously, though, offense shouldn't be viewed as nearly the same priority as pitching. Michael Busch and Alex Bregman—who started finding his groove offensively in July—have formed a strong combination on the corners of the infield. Chicago already has proven production and solid defense throughout its outfield and defense-first stars in whom they've invested a ton on the middle infield. The only places where they can upgrade the lineup are at designated hitter and catcher, and even those would be difficult maneuvers.

One intriguing possibility is Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward. Ward's power hasn't looked nearly the same after launching 36 home runs in 2025, but he's quietly been one of baseball's smartest hitters this season, consistently putting together quality plate appearances and getting on base. Defensively, he's been slightly below average this year, but Ward could slide into the designated hitter role on most days while also giving Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki occasional starts off in the outfield. It's not the biggest need, but it would be another way for the Cubs to deepen an already talented lineup as they prepare for the stretch run.

Whatever direction Chicago chooses before this afternoon's trade deadline, one thing feels abundantly clear: the Cubs shouldn't be done. Whether that's adding another starting pitcher, reinforcing the bullpen, bringing in another bat, or some combination of all three, Chicago is in a position to be aggressive. They've already made one statement by acquiring Gausman, but championship contenders rarely stop after addressing just one need. The front office has an opportunity to push even more chips to the center of the table, and how they choose to attack the final hours before the trade deadline could play a major role in determining just how far this team can go in October.

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