Chicago Cubs: What would be the cost of trading for impact pitching?

The Chicago Cubs are finding themselves in an interesting dilemma when it comes to their pitching.

More News: Chicago Cubs’ Shota Imanaga beats himself up over loss: “I should have kept them to zero”

Injuries have plagued the staff and there’s no doubt that the strain of the losses will take a greater toll as the season advances. Cade Horton is out for the season. Matthew Boyd is out until, at least, the All-Star break following surgery to repair meniscus damage. Justin Steele suffered a setback in his recovery from elbow surgery and his return has been pushed back. Meanwhile, in a bullpen that has also been battered by injury, Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey remain on the IL.

It’s universally acknowledged—and even acknowledged by the front office itself—that the Cubs will have to make at least one meaningful trade and maybe a couple of smaller ones to fortify their pitching for the coming pennant race.

What can (would) the Cubs trade for pitching?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Alex Bregman taking flak for offensive doldrums

The question, however, is how much will Chicago have to give up to get the arms they need and, secondly, whether they have the prospect capital in their organization to make those trades possible. Also, with the slated comebacks of Boyd and Steele in the second half, how much pitching will they even need down the stretch.

Cubs insider Sahadev Sharma just tackled that three-pronged question in a Cubs Mailbag column for The Athletic, specifically focusing on the team’s ability/willingness to land a significant front-of-rotation starter.

Per Sharma:

“It would take an aggressive offer and be the type of move the Cubs front office would typically view as an overpay. The fact that they don’t have tradeable draft picks (only competitive balance round picks can be moved) hurts as well, as those seem to move the needle…

If there are more sellers this year, rental pitchers will cost legitimate prospects; far away guys with potential, someone in the middle tier (rather than top 100ish) or just a prospect the acquiring team is high on that may not be universally loved. Very rarely do we see big-time prospects being moved for rentals anymore. It’s just not what front offices, especially ones like the Cubs, like to do…

As far as a legit ace, who is under control beyond this season, it’s going to cost a pretty penny. Chicago likely has enough for that kind of deal…If a pitcher who is under control for even longer becomes available, maybe a name like Wiggins isn’t untouchable.”

Sharma would also mention rumored Cubs target Freddy Peralta, offering some fairly good news for the team’s chances of landing the impact rental from the Mets:

“As far as moving Peralta, it’s going to take a good prospect, but perhaps not an obviously great one…”

Cubs trade bait

Mentioned in the mailbag are prospects such as Pedro Ramirez, Josiah Hartshorn, Kevin Alcantara, Jefferson Rojas, Jonathan Long, Kane Kepley, Owen Ayers, Brooks Caple, Dominick Reid, and Grant Kipp.

Even top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is not entirely off the board, per Sharma, if a trade can be made involving a high-end pitcher with years of team control.

For now, it would appear that young talent at the major league level—like Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros—would not be shopped around while the team is vying for a playoff spot. But everyone else might be up for grabs.

But the temptation for the ever-cautious Cubs front office may be to go modest in the pursuit of trades in hopes that Boyd and Steele make an impact upon their return.

Time will tell what path the Cubs take in all of this.

The post Chicago Cubs: What would be the cost of trading for impact pitching? appeared first on ChiCitySports.