Cubs insider reveals intriguing trade possibility for Chicago

The general expectation is that the Cubs will attempt to land an experienced veteran for their rotation, such as Michael Wacha. But Mooney actually thinks Chicago could go in a different direction and bring in some young talent instead.

“The Cubs could trade for a young pitcher and develop new opportunities, depending on the circumstances, the way Ben Brown excelled as a high-leverage reliever and a top-line starter before his recent neck injury,” Mooney wrote. “The club might make multiple moves for pitching, increasing overall depth, limiting exposure in different areas and creating advantages with particular matchups.”

Essentially, Chicago would be trading for young, cost-controlled talent that it can grow with moving forward while also helping the team in the present.

Of course, finding such pitchers midseason will be a trying task. Most ballclubs, contending or not, are typically not prepared to surrender young pitching under team control for the foreseeable future. If the Cubs do pursue such a route, they may have to be prepared to pay up.

There may be some scenarios where Chicago could pluck a struggling young pitcher from another club to see if it can make it work with him in the Windy City. Or, the Cubs could try and find a team with a pitching surplus that is in need of bats and then move one of their many young hitters in exchange for a hurler.

We’ll see what Chicago does in the coming weeks.