Despite the Chicago Cubs being in first place in the National League Central, the offense is the main reason they have had success.
The team’s bullpen has been lights out since April, but the starting rotation is middle of the pack after Justin Steele went down for the season.
Shota Imanaga has missed a few starts due to a hamstring strain, but is working his way back and should rejoin the team in the next few weeks.
With that in mind, all signs point at the Cubs making some moves to address the starting rotation.
Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have been brilliant. However, Ben Brown has been inconsistent and Cade Horton has only pitched four times in his short Major League Baseball career.
Zachary Howell of ClutchPoints cited Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell as a possible trade target for Chicago.
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“Littell is a younger pitcher who can come in and provide the complimentary pitching necessary to boost their staff,” wrote Howell.
Littell, 29, is 4-5 with a 3.97 ERA. His 1.08 WHIP ranks 23rd in MLB, and he has a 20:2 strikeout to walk ratio in five May starts.
While Howell didn’t create a trade proposal for the deal, Miguel Amaya and Vidal Brujan were names that he said could entice Tampa Bay. Brujan began his career with the Rays in 2021.
The Cubs have a plethora of young talent in the minor leagues, but the team probably wouldn’t give up any top prospects in a deal that isn’t for a superstar.
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