Chicago could eye a new trade target to anchor their rotation. This controllable right-hander could be the missing piece for a postseason push and long-term mound stability.
The Chicago Cubs are in the hunt for pitching at this year’s trade deadline.
The Cubs will be very active before Monday’s trade deadline to acquire multiple pitchers to improve their chances in the postseason. The front office is looking to trade for at least three pitchers at the trade deadline, according to Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.
One of those pitchers is expected to be a starting pitcher.
The Cubs have been linked to a lot of pitchers over the last few days. They are considering Tarik Skubal, are one of four teams showing the most interest in Freddy Peralta, and have kept tabs on Robbie Ray, Clay Holmes, and Reid Detmers. Teams also believe that Chicago is the frontrunner to land Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock.
However, a new top trade target has potentially emerged for the Cubs. The Mariners are reportedly listening on All-Star pitcher George Kirby ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times said Kirby “could be available in the right deal.”
With Seattle at least willing to listen on the right-hander, a pitcher-needy team like the Cubs could be all over this. Kirby is now the best controllable pitcher available for trade at the deadline. He won’t become a free agent until after the 2028 season, which means teams would have him for 2 ½ years.
It’s no secret that the Cubs would prefer to trade for a controllable starting pitcher. If you look ahead to the 2027 season, Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga could both be gone since they are free agents at the end of this season, and Cade Horton will likely be out through the All-Star break. By acquiring a controllable starting pitcher at this year’s deadline, Chicago can get pitching help for the rest of this season and all of next season.
Now, it’s not going to be cheap to acquire Kirby. He has been one of the most consistent starters in the game since entering the league in 2022. The 28-year-old has a career 3.65 ERA, 1.142 WHIP, and 728 strikeouts across 757 ⅔ innings pitched.
Although Kirby hasn’t been as sharp on the mound this year (3.98 ERA with a career-worst 1.300 WHIP), he should immediately rise to the top of the Cubs’ wish list. He’s a controllable starting pitcher who is one of the best control artists in the game.
Kirby would definitely cost more than Hancock. While the Cubs would likely only need to include Matt Shaw or Pedro Ramirez in a trade straight up for Hancock, they would need to include Shaw/Ramirez and more for the 2023 All-Star.
However, it’s a move Chicago could be looking to make at the deadline. He would be the controllable starting pitcher that the Cubs are looking for, and the Mariners right-hander would instantly upgrade this rotation for the stretch run.
