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Cubs Trade Idea Lands 3.88 ERA Starter

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Bernardi | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 4:20 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs should find themselves as buyers at this year’s trade deadline.

They could lose faith in the Kyle Tucker negotiations and choose to blow everything up, but, at 45-28 and 6.5 games up for the National League Central lead, it feels like win-now mode.

One potential option is Tampa Bay Rays right-handed starting pitcher Zack Littell. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com listed the Cubs as a possible fit.

Here is what that trade could look like:

Chicago receives: RHP Zack Littell

Tampa Bay gets: RHP Brody McCullough (No. 23), RHP Nazier Mulé (No. 26)

Littell, 29, is a pending free agent, and should the Rays deal him, he would likely only require a mid-tier prospect or a pair of lower-tier ones.

He has been solid in this Tampa Bay rotation this season, going 6-7 with a 3.88 ERA, a 5.32 FIP, and 61 strikeouts to 11 walks over 92 and 2/3 innings. He is far from the perfect pitcher, but would slot in nicely at the back of the Cubs’ staff, particularly with Shota Imanaga still recovering from his left hamstring injury.

Chicago should feel decent about its trio of Matthew Boyd (2.79 ERA, 3.60 FIP), Jameson Taillon (3.48 ERA, 4.59 FIP), and Colin Rea (3.84 ERA, 4.14 FIP). But, they are all north of 33 years old, and adding another innings eater will help their postseason chances.

Rookie Cade Horton (3.47 ERA, 3.73 FIP) deserves a stay based on his first six starts. However, he also dealt with shoulder issues last summer and was limited to just 34 and 1/3 innings. Perhaps the Cubs, trying to monitor his workload, seek Littell’s services.

Adding Littell would also likely force Ben Brown (5.57 ERA, 3.44 FIP) into long relief duties as he has failed to build upon an impressive 2024 rookie campaign.

Littell is not the sole piece that gets the Cubs over the hump, but he can provide value to a team in search of pitching support.

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

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