Steve Drumwright

One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes. According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15. But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs have been dumpster-diving and flipping over couch cushions in a quest to find starting pitchers to fill the void of their latest injury. With the trade deadline rapidly coming at them (Monday, 5 p.m. CT), the Cubs' priority is added multiple pitchers—starters and/or relievers—to give the team the best chance to not only secure a postseason berth, but to make a deep run, The Athletic's Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma reported Saturday. The Cubs entered play Saturday 6½ games out of first place in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers, but leading the NL wild-card race. Currently, the Cubs have 13 pitchers on the injured list, including six on the 60-day IL. Which of those pitchers come back and how effective they will be is up for debate. Of course, every contending team is looking for pretty much the exact same thing, so the bidding will be stiff for the best arms. The Cubs, according to The Athletic, are still in the mix for Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner from the Detroit Tigers, but more in the second wave of interested teams. The first wave is said to be the Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta. The Cubs could go back to the New York Mets to improve their pitching staff. They acquired left-handed starter David Peterson in late June from the Mets, who are opening to dealing right-handers Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes. Holmes is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday as he comes back from a fractured right fibula, although that could potentially be postponed if a deal is near. The Mets scratched Peralta from Friday's start and the Los Angeles Angels did the same with right-hander Jorge Soriano, another trade candidate, Saturday. Possible bullpen adds are San Diego Padres left-hander Adrian Morejob, Mets right-hander Luke Weaver and Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jeff Hoffman. View full rumor

While interleague play has knocked down a lot of the walls of a player being a better fit for one league over the other, sometimes a player just feels more comfortable in either the AL or NL. Could that be the case for Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman? According to a report Saturday by Robert Murray of FanSided, the Chicago Cubs are among the teams interested in the Blue Jays' former closer. The Cubs entered Saturday as the top NL wild-card team. Hoffman finished an MLB-leading 59 games in 2025 with 33 saves, but did have issues down the stretch before becoming more reliable in the Jays' run to the World Series. But this year, those troubles persisted and he lost his role as the closer. He entered Saturday with a 2.46 FIP (4.02 ERA) in 50 appearances and 47 innings. Hoffman has a walk rate of 8.1% and a strikeout rate of 35.2%, both career bests. He has five saves in nine chances, but none since May 23. Hoffman is making $12.667 million this year and next year, but the Blue Jays are willing to move on from him with the team having never really been in contention this season and his erratic performance as a closer. He had success in a setup role in two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies as well as one of his two years with the Cincinnati Reds. He began his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs are a contender ... for Tarik Skubal. Desperate for starting pitching due to a slew of injuries and poor performances, the Cubs have joined the fray in pursuit of Skubal, the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner for the Detroit Tigers. That is according to a new report Wednesday by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Skubal possibly made his last start for the Tigers in a 10-9 loss in 12 innings to the Baltimore Orioles, a game that the Tigers led 7-0 when the big left-hander exited. It left the Tigers with a 51-58 record and 4½ games out of the final AL wild-card spot, although they would have to get past five teams to grab that last berth. The Cubs (61-47), who have 12 pitchers in the injured list, are in second place in the NL Central, three games behind the three-time defending division champion Milwaukee Brewers, but lead the NL wild-card standings 4½ games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies, who are tied. While Skubal would make a difference in the regular season, he would be a bigger presence in the postseason. An obstacle for the Cubs would be the package they could put together compared to the Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, just two of the contenders vying for Skubal. Both of those teams have better farm systems, meaning the Cubs might need to give more higher-end prospects to be in the mix, including Northside Baseball's No. 1 and two prospects, Double-A shortstop Jefferson Rojas and High-A outfielder Josiah Hartshorn. The Tigers are also seeking a young MLB-ready pitcher, which the Cubs don't truly possess. Skubal is a free agent after the season and making $32 million this season. View full rumor

With Jameson Taillon now jettisoned and the Chicago Cubs having multiple spots in their starting rotation that need an upgrade, there seems to be a team that they would match up well with. The Seattle Mariners. The Mariners, still in contention in the AL West even after dropping three of four vs. the Texas Rangers following Monday's 7-3 loss, are open to trading at least one of the six starters they have in their rotation. The two who are most available are young right-hander Emerson Hancock and veteran right-hander Luis Castillo. Hancock could be priced higher as he is under club control through 2030 before hitting free agency. Hancock has a 3.73 FIP (3.16 ERA) with a 6.3% walk rate and 23.4% strikeout rate. Castillo, on the other hand, is due a lot of money through next season, about $32.5 million with a vesting option for 2028 at $25 million if he reaches 180 innings in 2027. But the Mariners would be willing to eat some of Castillo's contract in the right deal. Castillo's output has slid from the days when he was an All-Star starter. He has a 4.37 FIP (4.85 ERA) in 19 games, walking 7.2% of hitters and striking out 20.1%. Seattle would be looking for major-league offense in return. One option the Cubs could part with in a deal for pitching would be right fielder Matt Shaw, who is currently on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist but could be close to returning. There would have to be more than Shaw, perhaps a young hitter such as infielder Pedro Ramirez. View full rumor

On a team desperate for starting pitching to remain in the postseason hunt, the Chicago Cubs have decided to cut one of their starters. Right-hander Jameson Taillon was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Monday. Left-hander Andrew Wantz had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa. Taillon is making $18 million in 2026, the final season of a four-year, $68 million deal. Unless another team claims him off waivers or he is traded, the Cubs will be on the hook for the prorated portion of that $18 million. Taillon has a 6.74 FIP (5.92 ERA) in 15 starts this season, with an 8.3% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. The final straw came in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in which Taillon was tagged for seven runs in four innings on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He allowed 11 runs over 8⅓ innings in his last two starts. The Cubs currently have 12 pitchers on either the 15- or 60-day injured list, including starters Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown. Wantz was signed to a minor-league deal June 6 after being designated for assignment and choosing to become a free agent instead of being outrighted to Triple-A. He appeared in one game for the Rays, giving up five runs in 1⅔ innings. After signing with the Cubs and reporting to Iowa, Wantz has appeared in seven games, three starts, with a 4.32 ERA over 25 innings, walking 15 and striking out 26. Wantz was originally a seventh-round draft choice by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 out of North Carolina-Greensboro. View full rumor

There are grandiose and subtle ways to upgrade positions for a contending team. For the Chicago Cubs, who get solid production from their catching tandem of Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, there could be a player who could increase that output that would be beneficial for a team already in postseason position. One catcher out on the market, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, is Baltimore Orioles backstop Adley Rutschman. Once the darling of the Orioles' rebuild, Rutschman hasn't been the superstar they envisioned. A switch-hitter, Rutschman has a career slash line of .254/.342/.414. He hit 20 and 19 homers in his second and third seasons in the majors, while drawing AL MVP votes in 2022, when he finished second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting, and 2023. But injuries in each of the last two seasons have slowed his production. In 90 games last year, Rutschman slashed .220/.307/.366 with nine homers and 29 RBIs. He has followed that up with a .251/.331/.433 with eight homers and 47 RBIs in 67 games this year before hitting the injured list for the third time this season Monday, this one for inflammation in his left wrist. Still, he represented the Orioles in last week's All-Star Game. That injury will keep him out until at least the weekend of the trade deadline, which is Aug. 3. The Orioles have struggled last year and this year and with Samuel Bassallo in the fold long term after signing an extension this year, making Rutschman not as valuable as he once was. Still an elite defender, Rutschman is also under club control through the 2027 season, so the Orioles won't be looking to dump him for just anything, yet it wouldn't cost the Cubs an arm and a leg (maybe just an arm) to pry him away. View full rumor

One step forward and one step back for the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff. Right-handed starter Jameson Taillon was activated from the 15-day injured list to start for the Cubs in Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Aaron Civale was also formally added to the 26-man roster after being designated for assignment by the A's and traded to the Cubs on Saturday. The bad news comes in the form of right-handed reliever Phil Maton going back on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right knee. This is his third trip to the IL with the same knee issue. Also, left-hander Drew Pomeranz was designated for assignment. Taillon has been out since going on the IL June 9 with a strained left hamstring. He spent the last two weeks on a rehab assignment. The Cubs' rotation has been besieged by injuries, one reason for the addition of Civale, who had a 5.42 ERA in 16 games for the A's. Entering Monday's start, Taillon has 6.31 FIP (5.19 ERA) with an 8% walk rate and 20.6% strikeout rate. Maton has been a fairly reliable reliever before this season. In addition to the constant knee ailments, he has posted a 5.49 FIP (6.18 ERA) in 31 games and 27⅔ innings. His walk rate (11.8%) and strikeout rate (22.8%) are way down from last year, when he posted marks of 8.9% and 36.7%. Pomeranz was signed to a minor-league contract June 22 after being released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18. After being called up July 3, Pomeranz had a 9.45 FIP (7.94 ERA) in 5⅔ innings over six appearances. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs said they would go after pitching in the 2026 MLB Draft and they lived up to their word on Day 1. The Cubs took three college pitchers—Mississippi right-hander Cade Townsend (first round), Nebraska right-hander Carson Jasa (third round) and Northwestern State right-hander Dylan Marionneaux (fourth round)—with their five selections Saturday. They also picked two college hitters in Texas A&M outfielder Cadel Sorrell and Florida State first baseman Myles Bailey. The Bailey pick was a compensation pick after the second round for losing right fielder Kyle Tucker in free agency. Sorrell was a traditional second-round selection. Townsend and Bailey were draft-eligible sophomores and all five Day 1 picks were from college. How will they follow that up Sunday? As a reminder, here are the slot values for the Cubs' selections: First round (23rd pick): $3,947,600 Second round (62nd): $1,487,200 Second round (comp., 75th): $1,120,900 Third round (98th): $800,000 Fourth round (126th): $609,200 Fifth round (159th): $441,300 Sixth round (188th): $344,400 Seventh round (217th): $272,000 Eighth round (247th): $224,100 Ninth round (277th): $204,100 10th round (307th): $193,300 Players drafted in Rounds 11 through 20 have a soft cap of $150,000, with any amount over that counting against the bonus pool. That also goes for undrafted free agents, who will begin signing as soon as the final pick is made Sunday. Draft picks must sign by July 27 at 4 p.m. CT. All of the draft coverage will be carried by MLB.com, MLB.tv and MLB+ beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. What do you think of the Cubs' draft so far? Do you have a favorite pick? Is there a player they should target on Day 2? View full article

Image courtesy of MLB.com While still jockeying for a spot in the postseason, the Chicago Cubs’ front office turns its attention to the amateur level this weekend for the MLB Draft. While none of the players selected this weekend are likely to impact the postseason push, the Cubs do recognize that they need to shore up the pitching in their system. Last year, the Cubs went with Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad with the 17th overall pick. In 2024, they selected Florida State third baseman Cam Smith with the 14th pick, then traded him that December to the Houston Astros in the Kyle Tucker blockbuster. Right-hander Cade Horton was the last pitcher taken by the Cubs in the first round, picking him out of Oklahoma in 2022. The draft begins with the first four rounds Saturday, then finishing Sunday with Rounds 5 through 20. TV coverage begins at noon CT on NBC and Peacock, with it switching to MLB.com, MLB Network, MLB.tv and MLB+ at 1:30 p.m. Sunday’s telecast begins at 10:30 a.m. CT on MLB.com, MLB.tv and MLB+. The Cubs have the 23rd pick in the first round, with five picks total on the first day. The extra pick comes courtesy of Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers after receiving a qualifying offer, giving the Cubs the final pick of the second round at No. 75. The Cubs’ pool this year is $9,644,100. While there are slot values assigned to each pick in the first 10 rounds, teams can sign players for any amount as long as it fits into their pool. Deals are often made with certain players in order to redistribute money to another player. Teams can spend up to 5% more than their draft pool without incurring a penalty. The Cubs are one of three teams to surpass their bonus pool each of the 14 years under this system (the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are the others). No team has ever spent more than 5% while this rule has been in place. Last year, 20 of 30 teams surpassed their bonus pool. Here are the slot values for each of the Cubs' picks: First round (23rd pick): $3,947,600 Second round (62nd): $1,487,200 Second round (comp., 75th): $1,120,900 Third round (98th): $800,000 Fourth round (126th): $609,200 Fifth round (159th): $441,300 Sixth round (188th): $344,400 Seventh round (217th): $272,000 Eighth round (247th): $224,100 Ninth round (277th): $204,100 10th round (307th): $193,300 Players drafted in the 11th through 20th rounds do not technically have a slot value, although they are soft-capped at $150,000 without counting toward the bonus pool. Any amount above $150,000 will go against the cap. That amount also applies to undrafted free agents. Teams have until July 27 at 4 p.m. CT to sign their draft picks. Who should the Cubs take with their top pick? View full article

The dynamic talent of Pete Crow-Armstrong is going back to the All-Star Game. The Chicago Cubs' center fielder was voted in as an NL reserve to the July 14 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Crow-Armstrong also went last year. Crow-Armstrong is a highlight machine, whether it is with his range and glove covering gap to gap (with the occasional miscue) or his bat booming home runs. He has a slash line of .287/.374/.526 entering play Saturday with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs. He also has a 5.1 bWAR, which is the best in MLB and near the 5.9 he posted last year. The nine starters for each team were determined by two rounds of fan balloting, with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement getting automatically selected to start by virtue of leading the first round in the NL and AL, respectively. The 23 reserves, which includes 12 pitchers as that position is not up for voting, are selected by player voting and the Commissioner's Office, which ensures that each team has a representative in the game. View full rumor

The Chicago Cubs are ready to see what the Drew Pomeranz experience in 2026 is like. The Cubs on Friday selected the left-hander from Triple-A Iowa and sent left-hander Jordan Wicks to Triple-A Iowa. Pomeranz, who pitched for the Cubs last year, was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 18 and scooped up by the Cubs four days later. With the Angels, Pomeranz had a 6.33 FIP (5.01 ERA) in 23⅓ innings over 25 relief appearances to go along with an 11.1% walk rate and 14.8% strikeout rate, all notably worse than his 2025 numbers with the Cubs. He also gave up five homers with the Angels. In 57 games with the Cubs last year, Pomeranz had a 3.36 FIP (2.27 ERA) with a 7.4% walk rate and 28.1% strikeout rate. His career rates are 10% and 24%. After beginning the season on the 15-day injured list, Wicks has been with the Cubs twice now, appearing in four games, starting twice and getting saves in the other two. He has pitched 10⅓ innings and posted a 10.45 ERA with two walks and eight strikeouts. View full rumor