The Chicago Cubs came into the season with a hole in their starting rotation. Following injuries to Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon, the hole in the starting pitching rotation has only grown larger.
It’s likely they use the trade block to patch this hole.
FanSided’s Aldo Soto recently suggested the Cubs could swing a trade for Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Bieber hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he’s made rehab appearances.
“The Cubs are reportedly one of several teams that have Shane Bieber circled at the trade deadline,” Soto wrote. “The 30-year-old starting pitcher is returning from Tommy John surgery and he recently started at Double-A in his latest showcase before the trade deadline.
“Bieber has a $16 million player option that includes a $4 million buyout for the 2026 season. The 2020 Cy Young winner has dealt with elbow issues going back to 2023, but the last time he was pitching in the majors Bieber looked better than ever before undergoing Tommy John surgery last April.”
Bieber, when healthy, would be a huge addition for the Cubs. He would patch the massive hole in their pitching staff in a big way. But it’s hard to predict how he’s going to return from Tommy John surgery.
Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcántara is also coming back from Tommy John surgery, and he hasn’t looked great at times. This has left a huge question mark above his head at the deadline. The question mark above Bieber’s head is triple the size of Alcántara’s because the Guardians righty hasn’t made it back to the big leagues.
Still, if the Cubs believe he’s going to return in a big way, this is the deal to make. It’s the ultimate buy-low option for Chicago to pursue. There’s a chance the Cubs could land Bieber without losing any of their coveted prospects. It could make a lot of sense, if the price is right.
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