MLB: San Diego Padres at Pittsburgh Pirates May 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

Price tag went up for Chicago Cubs preferred trade target: Report

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jul 6, 2025 12:11 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs have yet to make a major move before the trade deadline on July 31. The deadline is rapidly approaching, and the Cubs have yet another need for a starting pitcher after Jameson Taillon was placed on the 15-day injured list for a calf injury.

Chicago needs another starter in the rotation, not only to keep from playing too many bullpen games like they did in Saturday’s 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, but to rest arms that have been asked to pitch in extra innings amid injuries to Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele.

Chicago Cubs: Price for Mitch Keller is going up

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs feel more urgency to pull off a trade following Taillon’s injury. However, the price tag for their preferred starting pitcher, Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates, has gone up in recent weeks.

“The Cubs’ urgency to find another starter accelerated when they placed veteran Jameson Taillon on the injured list with a calf strain, sidelining him for at least a month,” Nightengale wrote. “They continue to pursue Pirates starter Mitch Keller, but his price tag is soaring with Keller yielding a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts, including seven scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Keller has a 3-10 record this season and a 3.64 ERA with 84 strikeouts this season. He’s given up nine runs in 30 innings pitched in his last five starts.

The good news for the Cubs is that they’d be trading for a pitcher who is on a hot streak. The bad news is they might overpay for a player who might not be as hot in the postseason.

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Los Angeles Dodgers Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller (23) pitches in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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