Chicago Cubs targeting pitching at MLB Trade Deadline to make run at Dodgers

The Chicago Cubs have some work to do if they want to catch the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Even with the series win in Pittsburgh over the weekend, the Cubs sit seven games back going into Monday’s series opener in St. Louis.

While the Cubs are in a good spot in the Wild Card race, the overall goal is to reach the World Series. They will have to take down some top teams and someone will have to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chicago’s pitching staff has been hit hard with injuries in the starting rotation as well the bullpen. They have suffered some tough injuries, which leads many to believe they will target pitching.

What MLB writer believes Chicago Cubs’ biggest needs are at trade deadline

Ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, Jesse Rogers of ESPN wrote on what each team in the NL needs to do to beat the Dodgers. For the Cubs, it was acquire pitching but he also mentions controllable pitching.

Injuries have taken a toll on Chicago, but the walking wounded have begun to return. That doesn’t mean the Cubs have enough six-to-seven-inning, playoff-caliber starters in the rotation, so piecing together enough pitching for four rounds of the postseason — including a series against the Dodgers — will be extremely hard for them as constituted. With just a 7% chance of getting a bye in the first round, according to FanGraphs, a really good 2026 Cubs team needs more.

The Cubs also have some expiring contracts on the mound, so trading for a controllable pitcher works for their future as well as their present. Los Angeles Angels starter Reid Detmers would fit that need. As usual, prices are currently high for those pitchers, according to league sources, but Chicago has some infield depth at the major and minor league level to trade from. That surplus is their strength, so don’t expect the Cubs to offload much, if any, from their major league team. They want what most teams want — a chance to take down the Dodgers this season and stay competitive for years to come.

Chicago’s bullpen is more banged up than its rotation. But, similar to those returning starters, the team is expecting lefty Hoby Milner (appendicitis) and closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) back in August. Palencia, in particular, is no sure thing in terms of health, so another reliever or two should be on the docket for the Cubs as well. The good news is that their position player group is one of the best in the league and can compete with the Dodgers in the field and at the plate. No need for improvements there.

The Cubs farm system isn’t as loaded as it once was, but they have depth to move guys. It’s possible Chicago could move more than a few guys in order to go for it this year and challenge the Dodgers or Brewers.

But it’s clear that they really need to find a way to improve the rotation and bullpen this weekend.

The post Chicago Cubs targeting pitching at MLB Trade Deadline to make run at Dodgers appeared first on ChiCitySports.