Cubs, Phillies linked to intriguing trade involving 3.43 ERA pitcher

The Chicago Cubs made some very notable additions this offseason, acquiring pitcher Edward Cabrera via trade and signing third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency.

The Cubs are expected to contend for a World Series this year, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers are the obvious favorites, Chicago is talented enough to make a run, especially considering the depth of its starting rotation.

Because the Cubs’ pitching staff is so deep, Chicago could ultimately move one of its pitchers in a trade, and Javier Assad has been tabbed as someone who could get dealt.

Assad has been solid for the Cubs since entering the big leagues in 2022, but because his stuff isn’t too overpowering, it looks like he’ll be on the outside looking in when it comes to Chicago’s five-man rotation heading into 2026.

In fact, Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors feels that Assad could be a trade target for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Could the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies match up on a trade?

The Phillies are looking to add some pitching depth of their own after losing Ranger Suarez to free agency and with Zack Wheeler still recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, and Deeds feels they could comprise a good match for Assad.

“Looking around the league, there’s certainly a handful of teams with an excess of optionable starters who could fit the Phillies needs,” Deeds wrote. “The Cubs (Javier Assad), Dodgers (Landon Knack), Tigers (Keider Montero) and Giants (Hayden Birdsong) are among the teams with optionable starters who have notable big league experience but are likely to be squeezed out of the club’s rotation entering the year.”

Assad owns a lifetime 3.43 ERA over 78 career outings and 54 starts, allowing 3o4 hits while registering 271 strikeouts over 331 innings of work.

Again, the right-hander’s stuff is not going to wow anyone, but he has been very reliable due much in part to his ability to keep the ball int he yard. Assad owns a career 1.1 HR/9, and his knack for inducing ground balls makes up for his rather ugly 1.99 K/BB.

The 28-year-old probably wouldn’t fetch much in a trade, but if the Cubs can squeeze a decent prospect out of the Phillies for Assad, it’s something they may want to consider.

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