To ignite a National League run, Chicago must secure elite starting pitching and reunite with a dominant flamethrower to transform its bullpen into a postseason powerhouse.
The Chicago Cubs will need some serious help at this year’s trade deadline to emerge as a contender in the National League.
The first step for the Cubs is acquiring at least one starting pitcher. Whether that’s Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, Joe Ryan, Robbie Ray, or Sandy Alcantara, they need to land at least one of those pitchers by the August 3rd trade deadline.
The next step is to fix up the bullpen.
The Cubs' bullpen has been solid for the most part this year. This group has the 10th-lowest ERA in baseball, and unexpected relievers like Ryan Rolison, Ethan Roberts, and Trent Thornton have stepped up recently.
However, the front office needs to beef up the bullpen for the stretch run. Phil Maton hasn’t quite worked out so far, Hunter Harvey has been on the shelf since early April due to a stress reaction in his right triceps, and Caleb Thielbar has regressed a bit from last year.
The Cubs have to go out and grab a difference maker for the backend of their bullpen. Why not make a trade for a reliever that this franchise traded for 10 years earlier to help them break the curse and win a World Series?
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman would really be the perfect trade target for the Cubs. Chapman would form an untouchable one-two punch with Daniel Palencia in the later innings, two pitchers who are the hardest-throwing relievers in the game.
It does sound like the Red Sox will entertain the idea of trading away Chapman at the deadline. MLB insider Bob Nightengale recently reported that Boston is expected to trade him away this summer amid a rough start to the year.
Chapman has once again been dominant in Boston’s ninth-inning closer. He currently owns a 0.46 ERA, 13 saves, and 26 strikeouts across 20 relief appearances and has allowed just one run across 19 ⅔ innings pitched this season.
Having a reliever of Chapman’s caliber would do wonders for this bullpen. He has a .185 expected batting average against, a 32.9% whiff rate, and a 33.8% strikeout rate in the early going, and his ability to just get outs in the late innings is exactly what the Cubs need.
Nightengale's report this past weekend suggests the Red Sox will move him at the trade deadline, but that isn't guaranteed, given that Chapman could be under contract for another season.
If the southpaw pitches at least 40 innings this season and passes his end-of-year physical, his $13 million contract for the 2027 season becomes fully guaranteed.
Assuming he passes both of those requirements by the end of the season, the Red Sox would have him for another season. So, even though they are looking like sellers at this year’s deadline, Boston doesn’t necessarily need to trade Chapman away.
Still, the Cubs could be an ideal target for him if Boston decides to move on from him. Chapman has already helped the North Siders win one World Series; he could help them win another.
