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Cubs Could Trade for Starting Pitching Way Before MLB Trade Deadline Hits

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Bernardi | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 1:25 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs will be aggressive at this year’s trade deadline, but they might not wait until then to make a big move.

Particularly with Justin Steele out for the season, the Cubs need another starting pitcher (or two) to solidify their very real chances of making a deep, October run.

Shota Imanaga has been sidelined since early May with a hamstring injury, but he is expected to return to the team sometime next week. Still, it feels like a matter of when, not if, Chicago trades for another starting pitcher.

Here is what Bruce Levine of 670 The Score had to say:

.@MLBBruceLevine believes the Cubs could acquire a starting pitcher in the next 7 to 10 days.

Their desire is to get their business started well ahead of the trade deadline.

"They're going for it, they're proactive," Levine says. pic.twitter.com/HrZpYxp0b0
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) June 23, 2025

When asked if Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcántara was a potential option, Levine replied, “No. More likely a guy that we can’t all identify, but that’s a good, young veteran pitcher.”

One possible non-Alcántara arm is his Marlins teammate, Edward Cabrera. At 27 years old, Cabrera fits Levine’s “young, veteran” label with 353 MLB innings under his belt. He has been solid this season, with a 3.81 ERA, a 3.90 FIP, and 63 strikeouts to 26 walks over 59 innings.

Cabrera will not be an unrestricted free agent until after the 2028 season and would provide the Cubs not only with another starting pitcher for this summer, but beyond. There is no telling how Steele will return from elbow surgery, and Jameson Taillon (33), Matthew Boyd (34), and Colin Rea (34) are not getting any younger.

Since Cabrera represents more than a rental, Chicago would probably have to sacrifice a top-10 pitching prospect such as Brandon Birdsell (No. 7) or Jaxon Wiggins (No. 9). The Cubs also have young, righties in Cade Horton and Ben Brown, either of whom could move into a long relief role.

Regardless of whether Cabrera is Chicago’s target or not, it appears that a trade is coming sooner rather than later.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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