Cubs named trade destination for risky pitcher who just might fit

The Chicago Cubs have been playing some better baseball of late, having won seven of their last 10 games to improve to 41-37 and stabilize themselves in the National League playoff race. But it’s clear that severe problems still exist.

The Cubs got off to a 27-12 start this season but have gone just 14-25 since. A litany of issues have plagued Chicago throughout that stretch, and while the Cubs have basically experienced trouble everywhere, starting pitching has been their biggest bugaboo.

Outside of Ben Brown, who has been terrific since joining the rotation, Chicago does not have a single dependable pitcher it can turn to for a start. Shotei Imanaga has been pedestrian at best, Edward Cabrera — who was just placed on the injured list for the second time — has been a massive disappointment and the Cubs have been absolutely ravaged by injuries to Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon.

The general expectation is that Chicago will aggressively pursue arms between now and the MLB trade deadline, but based on the fact that so many teams are still in contention, it may prove difficult for the Cubs to find a definitive answer.

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has identified an intriguing potential target for the Cubbies, though, one that would actually be pretty risky: Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize.

Chicago Cubs named trade fit for Casey Mize

Mize just recently returned from the injured list (he was out with a hamstring issue) and hasn’t looked great over his first couple of starts, most recently allowing four runs on eight hits in a loss to the New York Yankees.

On the season as a whole, though, Mize has been solid, having pitched to the tune of a 2.95 ERA and 1.069 WHIP. He has also registered an impressive 4.14 K/BB ratio. All of those marks are the best of his career, although it’s fair to note that that has only been through 11 starts.

A former No. 1 overall pick, Mize has never really lived up to his lofty expectations since entering the big leagues in 2020, but he has at least been serviceable. The 29-year-old lays claim to a lifetime 4.05 ERA, 4.17 FIP and 1.263 WHIP across 100 appearances and 98 starts, and he made an All-Star team courtesy of a 3.87 ERA in 2025.

The biggest issue with Mize has always been his health. He missed all of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he has amassed a grand total of 498 innings over the course of his major-league tenure.

For a Cubs squad that simply needs arms, however, Mize could prove to be a nice addition. He is slated to hit free agency after the season, so the cost shouldn’t be extravagant, and at this rate, he would be one of Chicago’s top pitchers alongside of Brown.

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