Chicago Cubs: latest Tarik Skubal trade proposal may be more than team wants to pay

The Chicago Cubs have seen their starting rotation decimated by injuries ever since before Spring Training began. Last night, starter Jameson Taillon became the latest starter to suffer an injury. Manager Craig Counsell revealed that it is most likely a hamstring strain, and Taillon is going to be joining several other Cubs starters on the injured list.

At 34-32, the Cubs have quickly fallen behind in the National League Central Division standings, currently sitting 7.5 games out of first place. There is, of course, still time for them to make up ground; but they will not be able to do so if their pitching continues to suffer setbacks.

Tarik Skubal is the biggest and best name on the trading block this year, and the Cubs could certainly get him. But it will cost them future building blocks.

The Chicago Cubs would have to give up top prospects to get Tarik Skubal

Skubal is still recovering from a procedure that removed some floating bodies from his left arm, his throwing arm. In seven starts this year, he is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA for the Detroit Tigers.

As Detroit is one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball, and since Skubal will be a free agent at the end of the season, it is widely believed they will trade the two-time Cy Young Award winner in order to acquire some top prospects to help them rebuild.

Due to their injury issues in the starting rotation, the Cubs are commonly thrown out as a possible suitor for Skubal. But the latest trade proposal from ESPN may be too costly for Chicago:

“Trading Skubal doesn’t mean the Tigers would enter rebuild mode. Having signed Framber Valdez softens the blow (a bit) in the rotation, and they have young position-player talent to create a successful foundation in the AL Central.

“Ramirez and outfielder Alcantara fit that window. Ramirez slashed .312/.395/.547 with nine home runs in 43 games in Triple-A before getting his first call up to the majors. Alcantara has huge power — he has 15 home runs in 41 Triple-A games this season — and the arm for right field at the big league level.

“Both could help Detroit immediately and build on a core featuring Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene, Dillon Dingler and, eventually, Max Clark. Then there’s Wiggins, who has been sidelined since mid-April with elbow inflammation. That’s obviously a concern, but the right-hander’s stuff is explosive and the Tigers are thin on pitching prospects.

“Ramirez (No. 1), Wiggins (No. 4) and Alcantara (No. 6) are three of the Cubs’ six prospects. And they make sense for the Tigers.”

As one can see, ESPN suggests the Cubs would have to send Pedro Ramirez, Kevin Alcantara, and Jaxon Wiggins to the Tigers to get Skubal.

Here’s the thing, though. Chicago has 14 players of their own that are upcoming free agents, and their top prospects have already or will be in the Majors soon enough. What is more, Skubal is going to be a rental. He will cost more in free agency than the Cubs will want to pay, so they would be giving up years of club control over three of their top six prospects for just a couple months of Skubal.

Oh, and remember, Skubal is coming off of an injury too. It would be just an unimaginable disaster for Chicago to trade three of their best young prospects for a great pitcher who ends up on the injured list with so many others.

More Chicago Cubs news from ChiCity Sports

• Another Cubs pitcher is heading to the injured list
• Jameson Taillon exits in second inning vs Giants
• Cubs linked to jarring All-Star trade as season unravels

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