While it’s true that the MLB trade deadline is almost 3 months from now, the Padres’ acquistion of Luiz Arraez from Miami shows that’s early-season trades aren’t common, but they’re not impossible, at any position. However, what’s found most often is contending teams targeting pitching as the deadline nears, either starting or bullpen pieces, depending on need. The Cubs starters have had their share of success, led by bonafide NL Cy Young candidate Shota Imanaga and his MLB-best 1.08 ERA; the bullpen, however, hasn’t been as solid, prompting an early closing change from Adbert Alzolay to Hector Neris, along with numerous roster changes with guys to/from Triple A. The Cubs were already rumored to be in contact with the Marlins about a trade, and more teams will likely follow. There are many suitable options to pursue for a trade, especially from non-contending teams, and the Cubs should be firmly in the trade market this season.
Tanner Scott – Scott’s been the first rumored trade option for the Cubs and, on the surface, it makes sense. The Marlins are 15-32 and likely View Scott as an expendable option, while for the Cubs, Richard Lovelady was the only lefty in the team’s bullpen (Drew Smyly is on the IL) but was traded yesterday to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for LHP Jeff Belge. Scott owns a 2.57 ERA, despite a 3-4 record, and only 4 of his 8 runs allowed in 14 innings are earned. The flip side is that he owns a mere 20/17 K/BB ratio, meaning he’s averaging a walk per inning, and thus owns a WHIP of 1.57 also. Closers and erratic control usually aren’t a great mix; Neris is sitting at a 1.47 WHIP right now. Scott would be a solid option, but perhaps not the best option for a closer, if that’s what the Cubs were desiring.
Michael Kopech – The White Sox own a 14-32 record, is one game below the Rockies and Marlins for least amount of wins in MLB. Kopech’s ERA is 3.32 across 19 games (8 earned runs), a 29/14 K/BB with a 1.29 WHIP in 21 & 2/3 innings. The thing is, Kopech’s defense behind him certainly isn’t at the same level as most other teams. Delving deeper into some stats beyond the common ones, his batting average against (BAA) is .206, on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging (SLG) against are .337 and .311, respectively (.648 OPS) and a .256 BABIP (batting average against balls in play), all down from his 2023 totals sans the last one. A 37% hard hit rate and 34.8% fly ball rate aren’t amazing, but a 41.3% ground ball rate, 31.5 strikeout rate and 15.2 walk rate are above league average, the first two well above. Think of a flamethrower like Daniel Palencia, only with better control of his pitches. He wouldn’t likely be the closer, but would fit what the Cubs are looking for: a useful pitcher with decent control.
Hunter Harvey – He’s been a member of the Nationals since 2022, and been solid. He put up a 2.52 ERA in 2022, 2.82 in 2023 and 2.38 to this point in 2024. Zooming in on only this season’s stats, so far he’s played 21 games and pitched 22 & 2/3 innings, allowing 7 earned runs on 17 hits, 26/6 K/BB and 1.015 WHIP. He owns a 55.4% ground ball rate, and all of his opponent batting averages, on base% and slugging are good, as all are below MLB average. Also, a .291 BABIP is around the MLB average. On the downside, his hard hit rate has been above 40% in each season, being at 48.2% this season (MLB avg – 39.1%). However, the pros outweigh the cons. The big variable is if the Nationals continue to play decent and be in the ballpark (pun intended) of a .500 record, or if they’ll begin to decline a bit as the season continues. If the latter occurs, they could be looking at some trades (again). Harvey would help bolster the Cubs’ bullpen and earn Washington some quality pieces also with how solid his pitching’s been.
Chris Martin – this one is honestly an “out of nowhere” trade since he will be 38 during the season and Boston is playing decent, being around .500, like the Nationals, so they may opt to stick with him. However, there’s been multiple instances of the Cubs reuniting with former players later on (i.e. Jake Arrieta), and Martin, to his credit, has been decent. Martin pitched to an elite ERA of 1.46 in the 2nd half of 2022 in 27 games with the Dodgers, after a trade from the Cubs, and a 1.05 in 55 games during 2023 with the Red Sox . Often, however, regression is common for players as such. Sure enough, he’s pitched to a 3.63 ERA in 17 games this season. On the flip side, he’s had a 17/2 K/BB in 17 & 1/3 innings, so his control is very solid, and a decent 1.04 WHIP. His hard hit rate, ground ball rate and other batting stats against him are also all around league average, so he’s shown as a consistent option, whichever stat you look at. The big thing in trades like these and to why they make sense is because it wouldn’t cost the Cubs any of their top prospects to pull off a deal. If the Cubs think they can win the NL Central, a trade like this makes sense.
Mason Miller – The Cubs already made one trade for a Miller from the AL West; it was the recently DFA’d Tyson Miller of the Mariners, dealt to the Cubs for Triple A infielder Jake Slaughter. The Athletics’ Miller is much more sought after, and would easily be the costliest for the Cubs out of any pitcher that’s been mentioned to trade for. What makes the full-on breakout of Miller even more intruiging is that he was originally a starter, as 6 of his 10 appearances in 2023 starting games. It’s safe to say the bullpen move was the greatest choice for him. The numbers on his stat sheets this season are staggering. In 18 & 1/3 innings across 14 games, he’s had a 0.98 ERA (2 earned runs on 7 hits), a 0.65 WHIP, a 38/5 K/BB (!) and 18.7 K/9 innings (!). Miller is 25 and an amazing asset, making it tough for even a front office like Oakland’s to be obligated to trade him. However, if they are well below .500, which hasn’t happened up to this point, they could pull a trade off and move him for multiple young players as opposed to him being just one player. It really depends on if the A’s and Cubs could agree on a trade. The Cubs would likely do this, especially if it’s a close race for the division. The question is, who would be the players the Cubs are trading from the minors.
Those are 5 relief trade targets that I believe the Cubs could go after, and would make the current team better. Do you have any others that the Cubs could trade for in the relief market? If so leave your opinions in the comments below.
Photo Credit; Fish Stripes, KLTV, ESPN, Fansided
Stat Credit; MLB.com, Baseball Reference
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