The Chicago Cubs could have an improved rotation at the trade deadline this year if this prediction comes to fruition.
When Marcus Stroman left the Chicago Cubs for free agency after the 2023 season, there was a void that needed to be filled before the upcoming year began.
The front office was able to accomplish that by signing Japanese star Shota Imanaga to a team-friendly contract.
He’s expected to be paired alongside ace Justin Steele at the top of their rotation, with Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks and likely Javier Assad rounding out the remainder of their order.
This is a good rotation on paper, but many Cubs fans would feel much more confident if they were able to land another upgrade.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report thinks that’s going to happen ahead of the trade deadline when they acquire former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
The 28-year-old has been one of the top starters in the MLB since his first All-Star selection in 2019.
He’s coming off a down season in 2023 where he was dealing with an elbow inflammation issue that forced him onto the 60-day injured list in the summer.
Bieber still finished the year with a 3.80 ERA across 21 starts, posting an ERA+ of 110 over 128 innings pitched.
It likely wouldn’t take a whole lot for Chicago to land the right-handed star either.
He’s playing the final year of his contract before he hits free agency, so the Cubs shouldn’t have to ship out a ton to land major pitching help.
In fact, Miller thinks it could even take one player to get it done.
“Maybe a one-for-one swap for Tauchman? Or Cleveland adds a second player to the deal to get one of those prospects? We’ll let them work out the specifics, but a couple months of Bieber pitching in Wrigley Field is a reasonable expectation,” he predicts.
It truly isn’t that farfetched.
If Chicago is in contention for the playoffs this season unlike in years past, the front office will likely look to make upgrades to their roster.
Only having to give up someone like Mike Tauchman to get a deal done that adds a pitcher the caliber of Bieber would be a huge win.
