The MLB commerce deadline is only a few days away, and the Chicago Cubs are reportedly pursuing beginning pitching assist.
The Cubs, who’ve seen Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad miss important time this season, are at present tied for the highest spot within the Nationwide League Central, and are aiming to bolster their roster forward of this week’s deadline.
Listed here are among the newest rumors floating round concerning the North Siders.
–Based on USA Right this moment’s Bob Nightengale, the Cubs are focusing on Pittsburgh Pirates beginning pitcher Mitch Keller, and will commerce their prime prospect to make the deal work.
That might be outfielder Owen Caissie, who’s at present the No. 37-ranked prospect in all of baseball based on MLB Pipeline. He’s additionally the Cubs’ prime prospect general, based on the publication.
In 81 video games this season with Triple-A Iowa, Caissie has hammered 20 residence runs and pushed in 46 RBI’s, slashing .278/.377/.563 in 358 plate appearances.
Regardless of a 4-10 report, Keller has had a powerful season for the Pirates, posting a 3.53 ERA whereas registering a 1.16 WHIP in 125 innings of labor.
In his MLB profession, Keller had a 40-60 report with a 4.43 ERA, hanging out 784 batters in 826.2 innings.
Based on Spotrac, Keller is below contract for the subsequent three seasons, and shall be owed practically $17 million within the 2026 season.
It’s price noting that Caissie, together with prospects Kevin Alcantara and Jonathon Lengthy, aren’t within the Iowa Cubs’ Sunday lineup in opposition to the Louisville Bats.
-Based on Nightengale, one other chance for the Cubs may very well be discovered with the Diamondbacks’ tandem of obtainable beginning pitchers, because the crew has reportedly “expressed curiosity” in both Merrill Kelly or Zac Gallen.
Each pitchers are free brokers at season’s finish, with Kelly already registering a 3.2 WAR with a 9-6 report and a 3.22 ERA in 22 begins for the Diamondbacks.
Gallen has had a decidedly worse marketing campaign, with a 5.58 ERA and 23 residence runs allowed in 121 innings up to now this season. He does have a profession 3.59 ERA, with a 60-48 report in 164 profession begins.
-Based on Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required), the Cubs have put out feelers on a number of main pitchers, together with Washington Nationals star MacKenzie Gore and a number of other relievers, together with Minnesota Twins nearer Jhoan Duran.
Regardless of the Cubs’ curiosity in Gore, Nightengale reported that the Nationals aren’t keen on dealing him regardless of the membership participating in a critical rebuilding effort.
-Mooney additionally reported that the Cubs have inquired concerning the availability of White Sox pitcher Adrian Houser.
Houser allowed three runs in a 12-5 win over the Cubs on Friday, scattering 5 hits and permitting three walks in that recreation.
