Key Takeaways:
– The Chicago Cubs may be looking to strengthen their rotation by acquiring Justin Verlander, a seasoned Major League player.
– Despite having the third-worst bullpen ERA, the Cubs sports the 12th-ranked team ERA.
– Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is highly considered, despite recently recovering from an offseason injury.
Cubs Seek Trade Opportunities
The Chicago Cubs appear keen to make significant acquisitions to strengthen their roster, with Justin Verlander headlining their potential targets. Chicago’s team, just one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, is performing well at 25 wins and 20 losses. Yet, they are exploring avenues to amplify their rotation to penetrate further into the competition.
Chicago Cubs’ Existing Rotation
The Cubs’ rotation is currently anchored by Shōta Imanaga and Justin Steele, which has steadily performed thus far. Shōta Imanaga, signed for a four-year, $53 million deal, shows a promising start with a 0.96 ERA in eight games. He’s already marked his presence by striking out 51 hitters in just 46 2/3 innings.
However, Justin Steele, initially chosen as the opening day starter for the Cubs, had early setbacks due to a “Grade 1 strain” in his left hamstring. Post his return on May 6, Steele hasn’t been in his best form. He allowed 11 earned runs across two starts following a promising comeback in his first game. Despite this, other players including Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon stepped up in Steele’s absence, maintaining the team’s solid performance.
Considering Potential Trading of Justin Verlander
Adding Justin Verlander into the mix would prove to be a significant enhancement to the Cubs’ rotation. Hendricks, who has faced challenges recently, could be moved into a bullpen position making way for Verlander. Despite starting the season plagued by an injury, Verlander, a seasoned player in his 19th season, can drastically influence the Cubs’ performance. Furthermore, Verlander, already a two-time World Series champion, has experience in post-season crunch games, which can come in handy.
Verlander’s Potential Impact on the Cubs” Rotation
Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award Winner, could bring invaluable experience to the Cubs’ young rotation. In five starts post his recovery, he exhibits a 3.38 ERA, which indicates his potential despite a seven-run earning against the New York Yankees. His plausible transfer to the Cubs could effectively put them in a commanding position for the ongoing season.
While the Astros, Verlander’s current team, are reluctant to surrender, a potential decline could see them move some pieces around. Consequently, Verlander, who was signed by the New York Mets for a two-year, $86 million deal in 2023 before rejoining the Astros, could be traded sooner than later. The deal, which includes a $35 million option in 2025 contingent on him throwing 140 innings this season, still has some mileage.
Nevertheless, the Cubs aren’t the only team eyeing Verlander. Rumors suggest that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers may also be interested. Evidently, his presence would undoubtedly be a key addition to any starting rotation aiming for a deep postseason run.
To conclude, with the trade deadline approaching, the Chicago Cubs’ management has significant decisions to make. Multi-talented players such as Justin Verlander can drastically alter the course of their season and place them on track for potential success.