How the Chicago Cubs can get everything they need in just one big trade

The Chicago Cubs need to make some moves. Losing eight of ten and falling from first place in the NL Central Division is bad. What’s worse, though, is that there doesn’t seem to be any real significant reversal of fortunes on the horizon.

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As of right now, there’s some crossing of fingers that the Cubs’ offense snaps out of its collective doldrums. There’s even more intense crossing of fingers when it comes to their pitching.

The team is counting tremendously on Matthew Boyd and Justin Steele returning from injury to carry the starting rotation through the second half of the season. They’re also counting on their other starters to turn recent misfortune into success. In the bullpen, the hope is for sudden and reliable stability from a relief core that has been up and down.

Chicago may have no choice but to keep crossing their fingers when it comes to the offense. There’s just not a lot of flexibility for removal or replacement.

But they can do something about the pitching—and that “something” involves trades.

The ideal trade scenario is one where the Cubs get a front-of-rotation starter, who is not a half-season rental, as well as at least one more stable reliever for the pen.

Their best bet for that might come via a return to the Miami Marlins.

The proposed Cubs-Marlins trade

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Cubs president Jed Hoyer has been in contact with the Marlins, talking about deals for the last couple years. Prior to the 2025 season, the two teams were almost in agreement over pitcher Jesus Luzardo. This past offseason, they did pull the trigger on a trade for Marlins starter Edward Cabrera.

This time, the Cubs need to make a serious play for Sandy Alcantara—a trade target that had already, reportedly, been discussed last trade deadline.

And what would that serious play look like?

Well, something this potentially significant has to make sense for both teams and it would involve a good deal of risk as well.

From Chicago’s side, Matt Shaw would be the most prized piece. Along with Shaw, the Cubs would send over first base prospect Jonathon Long (no. 7 Cubs prospect) and toolsy, high-ceiling 19-year-old middle infield prospect Fernando Cruz (no. 29 prospect).

In return, the Marlins would ship over Sandy Alcantara, middle reliever Calvin Faucher, and no. 1 pitching prospect Thomas White.

Does this make sense for both teams?

Why this would make sense for the Cubs:

Chicago would get an instant quality plug-in for the rotation who will be on the team through the 2027 season. The 30-year-old Alcantara has fully come back from Tommy John surgery in 2023 and, while he hasn’t been as lights-out magical as before the repair, he’s currently pretty overall solid with a 3.53 ERA over 10 starts this season. Adding top Triple-A lefty White would give the Cubs organization a much-needed high-end pitching prospect who could be ready for the majors by next season. Faucher, meanwhile, gives the bullpen another option, for this season and beyond, and someone who is an upgrade from some of the emergency call-ups called into service this year.

Why this would make sense for the Marlins:

Matt Shaw is a 24-year-old former first-round draft pick with a big future, who could settle right into third base (or a couple of other spots) and contribute immediately. Long is a well-regarded bat-first prospect who could fit into the needs of a Marlins team that has been looking for their first baseman of the future. Cruz is still in rookie ball, but has impressed scouts with both his bat and glove. MLB.com regards him as having “some of the best all-around tools” in the Cubs’ system.

This would be a painful trade for both sides—and, ultimately, a hard one to put together—but it gives the two teams a chance to instantly add what they currently need. For the Cubs, specifically, it might give them the ammo needed to make the deep postseason run they aspire to.

The post How the Chicago Cubs can get everything they need in just one big trade appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-matt-shaw-sandy-alcantara/