Cory Sparks

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs made arguably their largest splash a few hours before the deadline, acquiring right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes in a package deal that also included outfielder Tyrone Taylor. It’s no secret that Chicago’s pitching staff (especially the rotation) has been decimated with injuries, but Holmes’ pitching was quite literally made for this team. Let’s break down who Holmes is and why this acquisition fits like a glove. Clay Holmes' Updated Cubs Scouting Report Clay Holmes is a 33-year-old right-handed pitcher and entered the deadline as one of the most sought-after rental arms in baseball. He was originally a ninth-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him right out of high school. Holmes is in his ninth season, and he’s generated a career record of 40-34 with a 3.53 earned run average while striking out 534 hitters in 555.2 innings pitched. The Cubs will be his fourth team, as the veteran right-handed pitcher threw for the Pirates and New York Yankees before a brief stint under Carlos Mendoza (and Andy Green) in Queens. Transitioning Out Of The 'Pen Many aspiring pitchers who lack command end up going to the bullpen. The thought process is that their stuff will play for a few hitters as a change of tempo, but it’s not strong enough to be sustainable for multiple innings. Holmes actually transitioned in the other direction. He was primarily a bullpen arm from the 2018 season (his debut year) until 2024. In Holmes’ final year as a bullpen arm, he was the Yankees’ closer, logging 30 saves across 60 innings of work with a 3.14 ERA. The Mets then added Holmes to their rotation after signing him in free agency, and in his first real big-league opportunity, he immediately impressed. The team’s newest starter went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 129 hitters in 165.2 innings. Holmes’ 2026 So Far This makes 2026 his second season as a starter, and the newest Cub has seemingly picked up right where he left off. The 6-foot-5, 245 pound hurler is 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across nine starts. He just logged a High-A rehab start with the Brooklyn Cyclones last week, as the nine-year MLB veteran is coming back from a fractured right fibula injury that he sustained in May. Before that injury, Holmes was averaging just a tough below six innings per outing and looked steady yet again as a reliable member of the Mets’ rotation. Chase ‘Em Out Of Town! The North Siders' newest starter touts a five-pitch arsenal, leading the way with a 94 mile per hour sinker. Almost everything he throws moves laterally, and the sinker sits right around 18 inches of arm-side carry from a 41-degree release angle. One of his best attributes is the fact he can force mistakes out of the zone. The righty had a 32.9 percent chase rate (75th percentile, per Baseball Savant) before his injury. Holmes is also a master at mitigating solid contact, holding opposing hitters to just a 5.3 percent barrel rate (82nd percentile). The Cubs-ian Attribute What’s his best attribute, though? It’s far and away the fact that Holmes generates a sky-high ground ball rate of 55.3 percent (95th percentile), thanks to that heavy sinker. The Cubs are tied for the best fielding percentage in baseball at .989, and with Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman having five Gold Gloves between them, Holmes will be well protected by the infield behind him. There's no infield defense as good as this one, and Holmes will benefit as a result. The Cubs will hope to have other members of their rotation, like Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera, return. Before it’s time to build for 2027, though, this team gets to try out a steady arm who has quickly turned into one of the better starters in the game. He buries the ball in the ground and lets the defense get to work; could you conjure up a better marriage? View full article

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs were one of the more active teams at this year’s MLB Trade Deadline, and one of their bigger splashes was acquiring Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor from the Mets. They pulled this move off in the final few hours, and while Holmes is the headliner of the deal, Taylor deserves some attention for what he’s been up to this year and what he can offer. Let’s break down what he can bring to the table. Understanding Tyrone Taylor's Fit With Cubs Taylor is now with his third organization. The 32-year-old outfielder was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers, as the Crew selected him in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft. Taylor was picked right out of high school and eventually made his debut in the 2019 MLB season. Over what is now an eight-year career, the former Met has 60 home runs, 41 stolen bases and is slashing .238/.292/.422 (.714 OPS). Milwaukee then dealt Taylor in 2023. The Mets were in the market for pitching, so the Brewers gave them Adrian Houser, throwing in Taylor in exchange for pitching prospect Coleman Crow. Flashing Speed One of the first aspects you’ll notice about Taylor is his quickness. It’s apparent in the outfield and on the bases, as the veteran can cover plenty of ground with what serves as his main appeal now. Taylor, even when he isn’t an everyday player, has managed to establish a presence on the bases. Last year, he stole 12 bases in 113 games. It isn’t a high mark, but with the new disengagement rules being employed, we could see him be more aggressive depending on the situation. Referencing a larger sample size from last year, the Cubs’ newest outfielder logged a sprint speed of 29.3 ft/s, good enough to put him in the 94th percentile. Taylor was also touted as one of the best defenders in baseball last year, when he was on the field. His arm value of +5 (98th percentile) is top-tier, with a three outs above average (OAA) range rating being very respectable in the 84th percentile. As Taylor has progressed through the big leagues, his speed, and how he weaponizes it on defense, has been his best attribute. Pull-Side Thump The Brewers couldn’t get the veteran outfielder to stick in his time in Milwaukee, and the Mets, in the midst of a rebuild, were clearly aiming to offload him too. That being said, he is quietly putting up one of his best seasons at the plate from a power perspective. In just 67 games, Taylor has hit 10 of his 35 hits out of the yard. His career-high home run mark is 17, a value he hit back in the 2022 season. He’s currently on pace for just under 30 homers in a 162-game season. When taking a look at his spray chart, it’s clear that this is someone who is at their best when they can clip the ball out in front. The California native has hit all 10 of his round-trippers to left field this year, using an 11.9 percent barrel percentage to do so. Taylor’s 19.5 percent strikeout rate is admirable, but he’s never walked above the league average mark in his career, so it’s a tough sell to etch out an everyday spot for someone with an on-base percentage below .300. Where Does He Belong? Taylor will likely go back and forth with veteran Michael Conforto for the fourth outfield spot. Conforto has nine home runs and 24 RBI while slashing .231/.325/.456 this season, starting the year off red-hot before coming down to earth. The Cubs already have two elite defenders up the middle with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner. Pete Crow-Armstrong could very well be on his way to another Gold Glove in center field, and having someone like Tyrone Taylor on the bench should keep the defense flowing even when the superstar sits. View full article

The Chicago Cubs just swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, in large part due to some strong starting pitching and a remarkable series from National League MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong. In this video, we'll break down PCA's career year, the team's rejuvenated rotation, and the postseason experience on a squad that could be destined for a deep run. View full video

While Clay Holmes was the headliner of a trade between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, outfielder Tyrone Taylor could find himself a significant role player. In this video, we'll break down the veteran outfielder's speed, glove, and cover where he fits into the overall scheme of the 2026 Cubs roster. View full video

The Chicago Cubs got a second rental starter, this time Clay Holmes from the New York Mets, just before the trade deadline. In this video, we'll dive into Holmes' journey to becoming a starter, how he did in 2025, his remarkable five-pitch arsenal, an elite whiff rate, and a ground ball rate that'll play perfectly with one of the best defenses in Major League Baseball. Enjoy! View full video

Looks like they didn't go after him!

The Chicago Cubs dealt a pair of top 30 prospects for Kevin Gausman. In this video, we'll break down the valuable experience of someone who threw for the Toronto Blue Jays, a team that was a game away from being World Series champions next year. We'll also dive into his strengths and what's hindering him at 35 years old. View full video

Image courtesy of © Denny Medley-Imagn Images Outside of injuries to top-end arms like Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera and a 2023 All-Star in Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon has recently been designated for assignment amidst a lackluster season. Despite all of those issues, the Chicago Cubs find themselves firmly atop the National League Wild Card standings, primed to be a buyer at the deadline. In other words, they need to trade for a veteran starting pitcher or two, which is why Michael Wacha should be a name on everyone's radar this weekend. Assessing Michael Wacha's Trade Market, Fit With Cubs If the Cubs pursue Wacha, they’d be getting a true grizzled veteran. The 35-year-old has tossed over 1,750 innings, and in his 14th season of service time, the Kansas City Royals righty is still a steady rotational option. Wacha is a two-time All-Star (including a selection this year), and he’s played for six different organizations. The righty is mostly known for his seven-year tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he became very familiar with the Cubs and pitching at Wrigley Field. The Royals are 46-64, 18 games under .500 and 10 games back of the final wild card spot in a relatively open American League race. They're going to sell and Wacha is one of their best pieces. A Strong 2026 Campaign His performance this year, combined with the Royals’ poor start, have made him a prime trade candidate. Wacha has cruised to a 5-7 record, ranking in the top 30 among all qualified starters with a 3.60 earned run average (29th) and a 1.17 WHIP (28th). He’s done a remarkable job of limiting mistakes so far, logging a 7.1 walk percentage (70th percentile) and allowing just 36.3 percent of balls hit in play to be registered as hard-hit balls. Wacha works with a fastball that’s well below the league average in terms of velocity, but thanks to his 6-foot-6 frame, his 6.7 feet extension (76th percentile) makes the ball seem to ride up on hitters a tick quicker. A Plethora of Options The arsenal is far more vast than his four-seamer, though. In a day and age where throwing in the triple digits is becoming the norm, this old-school hurler uses a six-pitch arsenal and picks his way through opposing lineups. He uses the fastball just under 27 percent of the time, and opposing batters hit just .234 against it. Between his five other pitches (changeup, cutter, sinker, curveball, slider), three of them hold an expected batting average below .250 and all allow an average exit velocity south of 90 miles per hour. Wacha’s strength is limiting hard contact, and he’s been a master at it in his mid-30s. Luck Is On His Side While Wacha has done an effective job this year, even posting a pair of quality starts since the All-Star Break, he’s had a bit of luck on his side. He doesn’t generate a ton of swing-and-miss, earning just a 21.1 percent whiff rate (17th percentile), so a lot of his success relies on the players behind him. His 4.25 expected ERA is over half a run greater than his actual ERA, and the .253 expected batting average on his ledger supports the thesis. Wacha has managed to achieve all of this success while working around a sub-par groundball rate as well. Paying Up Wacha isn't an ace, despite his All-Star credentials. Still, the Royals would be giving up a quality starter, so what would Chicago have to fork over in return? Wacha is owed what remains of his $18 million salary this year and $14 next year before a club option (worth $14 million) kicks in following the 2027 season. The North Siders wouldn’t just be getting a rental; they’d need to find room for him a year from now when many, if not all, of their starters are off the injured list. That additional control means a couple of top-10 prospects may be on the table, though the Cubs may be able to get the job done with just one top-100 type (and a low-level flier) if they're willing to dig into the best chips in a weak farm system. View full article

The Chicago Cubs didn't just acquire a front-end power bat in Myles Bailey. They got some serious value in the later phases of the 2026 MLB Draft. In this video, we'll dive into the potential of Isaac Morton, Luke Alwood, and Brennan Hudson and where they will fit into the team's dynamic in the future. View full video

Image courtesy of © Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images Now that the dust has settled on the 2026 MLB Draft, it’s time to debrief and take a look at value picks. The Chicago Cubs didn’t just hit early on with power bats like Myles Bailey. Chicago also swiped some players with remarkable upside later in the draft. Let’s dive into who those prospects are and ultimately what they can bring to the table in the Windy City. Isaac Morton, Minnesota The Cubs took Isaac Morton in the sixth round of this year’s draft, and he has loads of potential to help the big-league ball club in a few years. Morton spent a pair of seasons with Texas A&M before transferring to the midwest to round out his collegiate career as a Gopher. He possesses a mid-90s fastball and supplements his primary option with a slider, cutter and a changeup. This past spring, Morton logged a 4-2 record with a 3.26 earned run average over 13 appearances, all of them starts. He struck out 63 hitters and walked 26 over 60.2 innings of work. His best start of the year was against a conference rival in Illinois, as the right-handed pitcher tossed seven shutout frames while allowing just two hits, three walks and striking out six. He also notably struck out a season-best eight hitters against Penn State, with the hurler allowing just one earned run on two hits over five innings of work. The main red flag here is Morton's injury history. This is somebody who had damaged tendons in 2023, and he ultimately threw out his arm to end the 2026 spring season. This will likely sideline him for the remainder of the calendar year, but he can rise quickly if he's healthy at the onset of the 2027 campaign. Luke Alwood, Seattle University Luke Alwood has the upside to be a productive pitcher in professional baseball, but the Cubs will need to harness the right attributes. He played his most recent season at Seattle University and he boasted his best year with the team in 2026. Alwood entered the year with some walk issues, giving up 121 free passes over 120.1 innings pitched. He cut down on that rate significantly this year, fanning 48 hitters with 19 walks over 43.2 frames of work. Alwood primarily operated out of the bullpen, logging a 2-4 record with a 5.56 ERA in 19 total appearances. Chicago will have to monitor Alwood’s command, but his mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider have the true potential to cause issues for hitters. At the end of the day, the Cubs signed him for a scant $50,000 signing bonus, so he doesn’t need to be a world-beater by any means. If Alwood turns into a serviceable reliever who can eat innings, he’s already out-performed expectations. Brennan Hudson, Georgia Brennan Hudson was Chicago’s final selection from this year’s draft, as the team took him in the 20th round. Any time you see an SEC baseball player, they’ve already been exposed to some of the best prospects the sport has to offer. Hudson has that advantage on some of the field, as he smacked 22 home runs for the Georgia Bulldogs this past spring. He saw a significant spike in playing time this year, going from making just seven starts in 29 appearances to being the team’s starter in 56 of 62 contests. Hudson touted a .657 slugging percentage, also impressing with his plate discipline, as the backstop drew 42 walks to 61 punchouts. With loads of experience against the best pitchers collegiate ball has to offer, Hudson could quickly leap to the higher levels of the minors if he can maintain the gains he made with his approach this year. View full article

Robbie Ray is a 34-year-old veteran lefty who is putting up a remarkable season in 2026. In this video, we'll break down his contract, play style, strengths, weaknesses, and what the Cubs should have to give the Giants in order to land him. Enjoy! View full video

6-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.04 WHIP this year! He's been great!

Image courtesy of © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images It’s no secret that the Chicago Cubs’ rotation has been dismantled with injuries from the word "go" this year. For a team that’s still well above .500, and would be in the postseason if the proceedings got underway today, let’s break down why Robbie Ray is the starter most worth pursuing at the trade deadline. Robbie Ray Trade Target Scouting Report Ray is a 34-year-old veteran pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He's 8-6 so far this season, and he currently holds a 3.33 earned run average through 20 appearances (19 starts). The southpaw has been around the block, tossing just north of 1,500 innings with 1,830 punchouts, and even in his age-34 season, he’s found a way to be productive on the West Coast for a moribund team. Contract One of the reasons Ray would be such a great fit for the Cubs is his contract situation. He’s on the books for $25 million this year, but the veteran starter will be a free agent after the conclusion of the World Series. With a lot of the Cubs’ rotation on the injured list, Ray could file in and the Cubs wouldn’t be tied to him beyond the 2026 season. With the Giants being obvious sellers who are well below .500, the Cubs could be a suitor and may only have to offload a prospect or two to get Ray. Pitch Mix Ray is like a lot of veteran pitchers in that he has a varied arsenal. He leads with a fastball that he utilizes 35 percent of the time, and it rides in at 93.3 miles per hour. His primary option plays well, allowing just a .234 batting average with 16 extra-base hits over 171 plate appearances. His slider (26 percent), changeup (17 percent), sinker (12 percent) and curveball (10 percent) round out a five-pitch repertoire. Three of his five options have a batting average against below the .250 mark. Strengths Ray is a finesse pitcher, sporting a below-average whiff rate, chase rate and strikeout percentage. How does he thrive? He works off of soft contact. The crafty lefty is holding opposing hitters to just a 38.4 percent hard-hit rate, good enough for the 52nd percentile. This directly contributes to a .239 expected batting average. which would play incredibly well in front of the Cubs' sterling defense. Ray’s off-speed offerings are a main contributor, as his off-speed run value is in the 93rd percentile, and his knuckle curve has proved to be the most lethal in his tool box, allowing three hits and just one extra-base hit over 34 plate appearances that have ended with the pitch. Weaknesses Ray has a few metrics working against him, one of them including extension. The Giants’ starter already has a fastball that clocks in at a below average velocity. Add a 6.2 foot extension (25th percentile) on top of that, and his pitches don’t appear to get up on hitters very quickly. Ray also gives up plenty of lofted contact, as he’s generating a ground ball just 36.5 percent of the time (20th percentile). It’s something he’s dealt with a lot in his career, but the 19.1 degree average launch angle paints a fine line; he can generate fly ball outs with lower exit velocities, but if somebody sqaaures up a ball, he can get hit around a lot worse than a pitcher with better raw stuff. Trade Compensation Rental pitchers are are always in high demand, and that'll be doubly true this year as contending teams look to compete for a title without clogging up their payrolls ahead of the impending lockout. A top-100 prospect isn't a completely unreasonable price, though someone just outside of that range (Kane Kepley, Pedro Ramirez, etc.) would likely be enough to get a deal done. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-Imagn Images Matthew Boyd has been the steady hand on the wheel the Chicago Cubs have needed in a year where each injury has tried to sink the boat a little bit more. With four starting pitchers (Ben Brown, Cade Horton, Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera) on the team’s injured list, Boyd has had to assume more responsibility when he's been healthy. As the veteran southpaw celebrates 10 years of MLB service time, a mark he achieved just a few days ago, let’s break down how he has actually gotten better after turning 30 years old. Exploring Matthew Boyd's MLB Journey Boyd is currently 35 years old, and his career hasn’t come without a fair share of trials and tribulations. The veteran southpaw made his big-league debut in 2015, and from 2015-2020, he churned out a 34-54 record with a 5.08 earned run average. He struggled mightily with injury issues, eclipsing 100 innings three times over those six years and surpassing 150 frames just twice. Boyd turned 30 years old in 2021, and from that point on, he’s put up a 32-24 record with a 3.71 ERA. The Cubs sarter has been with five different organizations, spending eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers and two years or less with four other squads. Yet, in the midst of a career consisting of changing environments and a heavy dosage of the injury bug, he’s aging like fine wine. His Cubs Years Boyd’s season and a half with the Cubs has far and away been the best stint of his career, as the crafty left-handed pitcher earned an All-Star nod for the first time in his career in the 2025 season. This was thanks to a 14-8 record, 3.21 ERA, and 154 punchouts over 179.2 innings, the second-highest workload of his career. The question becomes this; how is Boyd putting up the best seasons of his big-league tenure in his mid-30s? Pitch Arsenal Boyd has to attack hitters a little differently than a lot of the front-of-the-rotation starters nowadays. He doesn’t have a high-90s fastball, as his primary offering (which he uses 47 percent of the time) is gliding in at an average of 92.7 miles per hour (23rd percentile). It’s also a pitch that, even from his 24 degree arm angle, is being hit at a relatively high clip. Opposing batters are managing to generate a .310 batting average against the four-seamer this year. His changeup is the next offering in terms of usage hierarchy, one he chooses to fire 27 percent of the time. While the fastball isn’t as high-octane as most in the league, the fact that Boyd’s changeup rides in at 79 miles per hour makes both pitches effective. The 35-year-old tunnels the pitches very well, with the changeup being 13 miles per hour slower while holding a very similar shape to the fastball. Both pitches have plenty of arm-side ride, with the off-speed pitch coming out just a bit flatter. Boyd also possesses a slider, arguably his best pitch, garnering a .118 batting average against with a single extra-base hit allowed across 38 at-bats that have ended with the offering. Setting up this option has been pivotal in allowing him to return to his 2025 form after coming back from injury. Pristine Location A four-pitch mix, combined with a deceivingly low arm angle, is a strong start to being productive, but Boyd’s best attribute is that he makes his opponent work. Walks provide a one-way street to give the offense a chance to do damage, and the longtime starter just doesn't allow them all that much. He gives up a free pass just 6.5 percent of the time, good enough to nestle him in the 80th percentile league-wide. Overall, Boyd’s ability to mix up his pitches, hit the zone and garner high chase rates have all given him a finesse-driven approach. This allows him to be much more productive, and he doesn’t have to demand as much velocity out of his arm in the process. View full article