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Cubs Listed as Prime Trade Candidate for Padres' Former First Round Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Conor Liguori | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 3:59 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs are second in Major League Baseball in runs with 340, and are in first place in the National League Central.

The club has its sights set on a postseason berth for the first time since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the season's length to 60 games.

Naturally, the Cubs are one of the teams that should be heavily involved in trade discussions at this year's July 31 deadline, especially for help in the starting rotation.

The Miami Marlins, who are unlikely to be in the NL postseason race by the end of July, could be one team that Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer calls to make a trade. However, Allen Settle of Yardbarker does not believe a deal between the two teams would involve former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.

Rather, a left-handed pitcher and a former 2018 first-round pick by the San Diego Padres, Ryan Weathers.

"In many ways, Weathers has emerged as Miami’s de facto ace. His improved fastball velocity has allowed the former top prospect to break out in a major way," Settle wrote. "The Marlins could retain the 25-year-old as a foundational piece of their rebuild, but president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has a track record of flipping established talent for prospect capital."

Weathers began the year on the injured list due to a left flexor strain but has performed well after a rehab assignment at Triple-A Jacksonville in April. He's allowed two earned runs in his first three starts (15.2 innings) of the season with the Marlins, and opposing hitters are batting just .185 against his four-seam fastball, a pitch he throws for an average velocity of 97.5 mph.

Adding Weathers to the Cubs' rotation would allow manager Craig Counsell to return Ben Brown to the bullpen, and he would be extra insurance in case Shota Imanaga or Javier Assad suffer setbacks during their injury recoveries.

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

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