Cubs may have to do the unthinkable to trade for a starting pitcher

The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of starting pitching, and everyone knows it. Cade Horton is out for the season, Justin Steele had a setback and Matthew Boyd is on the injured list as a result of a freak meniscus tear.

Not only that, but offseason addition Edward Cabrera has been in the middle of some concerning struggles, which has left the Cubs’ rotation incredibly vulnerable.

Chances are, Chicago will add a starting pitcher between now and the trade deadline, and unlike last year where the Cubbies were frustratingly timid when it came to swinging trades, they will probably be fairly aggressive this time around.

The San Francisco Giants have a couple of arms in Robbie Ray and Logan Webb that could interest the Cubs, so expect to hear Chicago discussing potential trades with the Giants. But Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has floated a wild scenario in which the Cubs would also take on slugger Rafael Devers in a possible deal with San Francisco.

Could the Chicago Cubs take back Rafael Devers in a trade?

It seems rather unthinkable that Chicago would even consider this, and to be fair, Rymer does not seem to think it will happen, either. But he mentioned the possibility when talking about potential landing spots for Devers, who is now on the trade block.

“The Cubs need starting pitching a lot more than they need another bat. And even if they could get Logan Webb or Robbie Ray alongside Devers, is he really worth playing over the ascendent Moisés Ballesteros at DH?” Rymer wrote.

I actually could envision a scenario in which the Giants are willing to cut the Cubs a break on the trade package if they are willing to take back Devers and the $226.5 million remaining on his contract — which runs through 2033 — in return.

In such a situation, Chicago certainly would not have to surrender as many valuable prospects, which would be appealing. But why in the world would the cost-conscious Cubs want to absorb that much money, particularly for a horrible fielder who owns a .677 OPS this season?

Yes, Devers is a lifetime .274/.347/.502 hitter, so he will likely right the ship at the plate at some point, but I’m not sure Chicago would want to test that theory. Not at Devers’ price.

If San Francisco does ultimately insist on attaching Devers to Ray or Webb in a trade, the Cubs should — and most certainly will — look elsewhere.

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