One player the Chicago Cubs should trade for at the deadline

With the trade deadline approaching (just 30 days away), the Chicago Cubs could acquire a big-name player. The Cubs could use plenty of help on both the pitching and hitting side. The Northsiders are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and have lost six straight games. After getting swept by the Milwaukee Brewers this past week, Chicago now trails them by six games in the NL Central.

Although Chicago was without first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant for two games, they should have played better. With a 7-0 lead for starting pitcher Jake Arrieta in Wednesday’s game, the 6-foot-4 right-hander only lasted 1 1/3 inning while giving up six runs.

All season long, Chicago’s starting rotation has struggled. Only one pitcher, Kyle Hendricks, has an ERA of less than 4.30 and more than five wins. Their top four pitchers (Hendricks, Zach Davies, Jake Arrieta, Adbert Alzolay) have a combined ERA of 4.54. If the Cubs do wind up making the postseason, teams like the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are going to score many runs.

As a result, the Cubs should go out and grab a starting pitcher to bolster their starting rotation. Many teams are going to be sellers at the trade deadline looking to trade away their best pitchers. So, Chicago must be smart and make a move for a solid starting pitcher.

What starting pitcher should the Cubs target?

As mentioned, there are plenty of teams that will be buyers at the trade deadline. One team that will most likely look to trade away their best pitcher is the Texas Rangers. The Rangers currently sit at 32-49 and are 16.5 games out of first place in the AL West.

So, the smart thing for the Rangers to do is trade away their best pieces to get younger prospects. One name that the Cubs should start looking into is starting pitcher Kyle Gibson. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is having a phenomenal season. He is currently 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 90 innings of work.

Kyle Gibson (Image Courtesy of nbcsports.com)

The 33-year-old pitcher is having a breakout season after struggling much of 2020. The former Missouri star has been mediocre much of his career, having a career record of 75-74 and an ERA of 4.38.

However, Gibson has been far and away Texas’ best pitcher this season. In a meaningless year where they have less than a 0.1 percent chance to make the postseason, the Cubs could make a run at the veteran. The only problem with Chicago’s chances of getting the 33-year-old right-hander is their lack of prospects.

The Northsiders currently only have four prospects listed in the top 100 according to MLB.com. One of which is a 17-year-old shortstop named Christian Hernandez. As a result, It would likely take more than just Gibson for Chicago to move this young talent.

One player that could be on the move is their best prospect, Brailyn Marquez. The 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher is ranked 44th on MLB’s prospect rankings. Nonetheless, It’s going to be interesting to see what the Cubs do as the trade deadline approaches, just 30 days away.

Featured Image Courtesy of cubbiescrib.com.