MLB Trade Rumors: Robbie Ray Heads To Chicago in Proposed Deal to Save Cubs' Season

The Chicago Cubs have gotten off to a slower start than expected this season, partially due to a devastating injury to their starting staff. They tried hard to land another impact starter in the offseason, but instead went with the ever-promising, never-guaranteed Edward Cabrera.

With the NL Central Division extremely tight, despite a 9-9 start, the Cubs are only 1.5 games back of first place heading into Thursday's play. But adding a former Cy Young winner, coming off another All-Star season? That would be a huge boost for the Cubbies' rotation.

With that, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report suggests a proposed deal that would land Robbie Ray on the North Side.

Chicago Cubs receive:

Robbie Ray

San Francisco Giants receive:

Jonathon Long, 1B/3B/OF (Cubs' No. 6 prospect)

For the Cubs, Ray would take the rotation spot of Cade Horton, last year's Rookie of the Year runner-up, who has undergone season-ending elbow surgery. The 34-year-old Ray returned to the Giants last season after two lost seasons to his own Tommy John surgery, and came back strong, with a 3.65 ERA and 186 strikeouts. And history tells us that the second season after that procedure is usually better.

Ray has started the year with a 2.42 ERA through four starts, and a 1.03 WHIP.

As for San Francisco, let's face it, Giants fans, you are not going to be competitive in a tough NL West division this year. SF is already sitting 7.5 games back, and is only half a game up on the woeful Colorado Rockies. With Ray being a pending free agent, why not get a top prospect for him now rather than lose him for nothing?

Long, the No. 6 prospect in the Cubs' system, batted .305 at Triple-A last season with a .404 on-base pct. and an .885 OPS, with 20 long balls and 91 RBIs. He already has 13 RBIs in 16 games this year. Long can play first base, third base and left field, so plenty of spots to get his bat into a lineup in The Bay that is always struggling for offense.