Cubs linked to move for intriguing pitcher Craig Counsell once loved

The Chicago Cubs‘ offense has betrayed them during this current losing streak, but everyone knows that pitching is actually the biggest issue for the Cubs right now.

Chicago lost Cade Horton for the season, saw Matthew Boyd go down with a torn meniscus and was hit with a gut punch when Justin Steele suffered a setback. In a perfect world, Colin Rea and Ben Brown would both be in the bullpen, but they have now been forced into the starting rotation due to the injury issues.

The Cubs are expected to aggressively peruse the trade market for potential solutions between now and the MLB trade deadline, but the problem is that teams are not very likely to move significant pieces now when they have until Aug. 3 to do so.

That means Chicago may have to explore some other options, such as pouncing on intriguing pitchers that get released.

A perfect example of that is Eric Lauer, who was just DFA’d by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib thinks he would be a perfect fit.

Chicago Cubs could be a great fit for Eric Lauer

Lauer actually spent four seasons playing for Craig Counsell in Milwaukee between 2020 and 2023, so a reunion between him and the Cubs skipper would certainly be interesting.

“To be clear, there is some risk with Lauer’s profile, but that is essentially going to describe any move the Cubs make before trade talks start in earnest later this summer,” Campbell wrote. “Yes, there’s a concern that the Blue Jays, a team in need of pitching, gave up on Lauer, but the Cubs aren’t in a position where they can be too selective over potential moves.”

Lauer logged a 6.69 ERA in eight appearances and six starts for the Blue Jays this season, allowing 38 hits and an alarming 11 home runs over 36.1 innings of work. He also registered just 26 strikeouts while issuing 16 walks.

While those numbers are definitely concerning, Lauer is a year removed from going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA for Toronto, surrendering 90 his while posting a much more respectable 102 strikeouts through 104.2 frames.

The 30-year-old also put together a couple of rather impressive campaigns for Counsell during his time with the Brewers, pitching to the tune of a 3.19 ERA over 24 outings and 20 starts in 2021 and following that up with a 3.69 ERA through 29 starts in 2022.

Lauer owns a lifetime 4.26 ERA and could at least represent a viable long relief option/spot starter for a Chicago team that needs as much pitching depth as it can get right now. He certainly wouldn’t be the most exciting addition, but the Cubs can’t afford to be too picky at the moment.

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