Chicago Cubs connected to ‘unthinkable’ trade for star pitcher

The Chicago Cubs have certainly kid the skids, as they have gone just 4-15 since their 10-game winning streak. They actually put together a pair of double-digit winning streaks earlier this season, only to see everything come apart at the seasons the last few weeks.

The Cubs have a plethora of issues that need to be addressed, but the most prominent of all is their starting rotation, which has been among the worst in baseball this year.

Injuries have played a significant role in the struggles of Chicago’s pitching staff, but regardless, Jed Hoyer needs to go out and land at least one legitimate arm between now and the MLB trade deadline. At this point, it would be surprising if he didn’t.

But could the Cubs actually get in the mix for Detroit Tigers superstar Tarik Skubal? It’s looking very likely that the Tigers will move Skubal by Aug. 3, and there will be one heck of a sweepstakes to acquire him.

Jake Misener of Cubbies Crib has put together a trade package that he thinks will be competitive in the race for the two-time Cy Young award winner.

Chicago Cubs linked to huge trade for Tarik Skubal

Misener’s proposal features Ben Brown, Matt Shaw, Josiah Hartshorn and Grant Kipp.

“With a farm system that lacks any healthy high-upside arms, that means Hoyer may have to do the unthinkable: include Ben Brown in the package, just as he finally seems to be living up to his potential,” Misener wrote. “… In this trade, the Cubs package Brown with utilityman and former first-rounder Matt Shaw, along with Josiah Hartshorn, the organization’s #8-ranked prospect and Grant Kipp, their #28 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.”

Yeah, I’m not sure that a trade package bereft of any top-five prospects will be enough for Detroit to fork over Skubal, even if the left-hander is hitting free agency this offseason.

Misener himself admits that while he thinks the proposal would “get the Cubs’ foot in the door,” he doesn’t feel it would be enough to beat what some other contenders — such as the Los Angeles Dodgers — could offer.

Chances are, Chicago won’t be landing Skubal and will have to settle for lesser candidates like Freddy Peralta, Sandy Alcantara and Robbie Ray.

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