The Chicago Cubs remain narrowly ahead in the NL Central standings despite dropping their weekend series to the New York Mets. Their rise to a winning record has been fueled by one of the league’s top-performing offenses, led by star outfielder Kyle Tucker, rising talent Pete Crow-Armstrong, and an unexpected spark from catcher Carson Kelly. However, the pitching side has not been as reliable. The rotation has taken major hits with ace Justin Steele out for the season following UCL surgery and standout lefty Shota Imanaga landing on the injured list with a hamstring issue.
With both top arms sidelined, the Cubs may be in the market for a major upgrade to their starting rotation. They recently promoted highly touted prospect Cade Horton for his MLB debut against the Mets, where he allowed three earned runs over four innings. Still, the Cubs might look outside the organization for a more experienced arm, as suggested by TJ French of Athlon Sports.
French pitched a trade idea involving veteran left-hander Tyler Anderson of the Angels. His proposal would send Cubs reliever Julian Merryweather and top outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara (ranked No. 5 in Chicago’s system) to Los Angeles. Anderson, who has posted a strong 2.58 ERA with 39 strikeouts over eight starts this season, would immediately bolster the Cubs’ rotation. He’s building on a stellar 2024 campaign that saw him make 31 starts and earn All-Star honors.
With Anderson set to become a free agent after the season, the Angels are expected to entertain trade offers. A deal centered around Alcántara, a highly regarded young outfielder, might appeal to a rebuilding LA team. For the Cubs, the real decision lies in whether they’re willing to part with a top prospect for a potential short-term rental. But with a crowded outfield and pressure to end their postseason drought, a move like this could be the kind of aggressive, win-now push that fits their current trajectory.