MLB Trade Rumors: 8 Starting Pitcher Trade Targets for Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are having their best season in nearly a decade. They're off to a 40-26 start, and lead the NL Central Division by four games entering play on Tuesday.

But with ace Justin Steele out for the season, they're one legit starting pitcher short if they hope to make a long playoff run. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have been a terrific 1-2 punch, but the Cubs will need one more premier arm in the rotation.

With that, ex-MLB GM and insider Jim Bowden has suggested, in his latest for The Athletic, 8 starting pitchers who the Cubs should be targeting as a trade deadline add.

Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Tyler Mahle, Texas Rangers
Andrew Heaney, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jeffrey Springs, Athletics
Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins
Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Trevor Williams, Washington Nationals

Bowden's first choice is Gallen, despite the brutal season he's having—the worst of his career. He picked a bad time to do it, too, as he would be in line for a massive nine-figure+ free agent deal next winter if he's able to turn things around. Perhaps a fresh start, pitching in the 'friendly confines' of Wrigley Field, will help Gallen get his mojo back. He had a career ERA of 3.40 heading into the 2025 season, but is at 5.15 at this point. It shouldn't scare off the Cubbies, though, figures Bowden.

Kelly should come in at a close 2nd in this race, we would suggest. He's been a consistent upper-end of the rotation arm for the last four years, with a career ERA of 3.76, and an even better one this season, at 3.18. The only drawback is his age (36). But as a rental (he'll also be a free agent at season's end), that's not a concern.

Tyler Mahle, 30, would be next in line, based on his career year to this point, with a 2.02 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP for the Rangers.

The lefty, Andrew Heaney, would be a nice fallback pickup, assuming the 34-year-old continues to build on his strong 2025 season, with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

Cabrera in Miami had a rough start to the year, but has a 3.09 ERA in his last seven starts. How much they trust the youngster to stay consistent could determine if Chicago is interested. The rest on this list are a hard pass.