Chicago Cubs trade ideas abound as pitching staff continues to fall apart

The Chicago Cubs have taken some real gut punches recently, especially when it comes to pitching.

In about three weeks of season so far, the pitching staff has been besieged with misfortune via injury. Most notable was the loss of 24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton, who will be lost for the rest of the season—and well into the next—after having to undergo elbow surgery.

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But there’s been way more pitching bad luck hurled at the Cubs’ feet.

Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd went on the IL shortly after the Horton injury. Relievers Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Ethan Roberts have also gone on the shelf. Reliever Porter Hodge had to have his own season-ending elbow surgery. Top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins was temporarily shut down at Triple-A Iowa. Most recently, closer Daniel Palencia was placed on the IL with an oblique injury.

The strain on Cubs pitching is bound to impact the team as a whole as the season advances. And while ace Justin Steele should be back to the rotation before mid-season after last year’s elbow surgery and Boyd is already working his way through rehab, the reality is already setting in that Chicago will need to reach for some pitching help outside of the organization.

That’s why so many trade ideas and proposals have been popping up everywhere. If they can’t pick up the still-available free agent starter Lucas Giolito, a trade may be a necessity. Generally speaking, it’s too early in the season to pull off a significant deal, but the Cubs may be in a special situation where they just can’t wait until the trade deadline.

With that in mind, here are some early trade suggestions offered up by media.

Kodai Senga from the Mets

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The 33-year-old right-handed Japanese import was outstanding in 2023 (12-7, 2.98 ERA over 29 starts) and also in 2025 (7-6, 3.02 ERA in 22 starts), after missing almost all of 2024 due to injury. This year, he got off to a decent beginning before being lit up in his last two starts (including against the Cubs in the Cubs-Mets series opener at Wrigley Field on Friday). All in all, he has an ugly 8.83 ERA over 4 starts so far in 2026.

Ryan Shea of SI.com believes that Senga, who’s under a $15 million-per-season contract through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, provides a “buy-low opportunity on frontline talent” for the Cubs.

In return, Shea sees the Cubs giving up no. 5 prospect OF Kane Kepley and no. 17 prospect RHP Jostin Florentino.

Luis Severino from the Athletics

The 32-year-old veteran right-hander has made it clear that he’s not all that happy with pitching for the Athletics under current conditions. His numbers this year and last perhaps show that displeasure. The veteran, who has a $22 million player option after this season, hasn’t posted a sub-3.90 ERA since 2022 with the Yankees, but what he does do is provide innings—and that’s something the Cubs desperately need right now.

Ryan Shea of SI.com estimates that Severino could cost the Cubs no. 16 prospect RHP Brandon Birdsell (who will miss all of 2026 after elbow surgery) and no. 27 prospect LHP Riley Martin (who is already pitching with the big league Cubs).

Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants

If the 8-12 Giants don’t see themselves as realistic competitors in the tough NL West, it’s conceivable that they could start unloading contracts, possibly starting with the 34-year-old Ray, who’s owed $25 million in this last year of his contract. The lefty has been very good so far this season and was a solid workhorse last year. He could be slotted somewhere in the Cubs rotation to compensate for the loss of Horton.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report sees the Giants’ asking price for Ray as fairly reasonable—no. 6 prospect 1B Jonathon Long, who could be viewed as expendable with Michael Busch owning the first base spot on the major league squad.

Other trade names tossed about are the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara (again), the Twins’ Joe Ryan, the Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs, the Angels’ Jose Soriano, and the Rays’ Drew Rasmussen.

Most of these possible trade targets—maybe all of them—won’t be dealt before the trade deadline. But the Cubs could push for the deals by sweetening the pot offered. If things continue on the current bad luck path, they may have to.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-trade-ideas-pitchers-senga-ray-severino-alcantara/