Big Risk, Big Reward: Could DeGrom or Sale make sense for Cubs? |
Dustin Riese
· · 21 hours ago
By now, it's abundantly clear that the Chicago Cubs are not only one of the best teams in the National League but one of the best teams in baseball. Currently sporting a 35-21 record, the Cubs have already endured the toughest 41-game stretch anyone will face this season and are 11-3 during the subsequent 21-game stretch, where the schedule has lightened up.
Keep in mind that they have done that without their two best starters, Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, an inconsistent bullpen that has continued to struggle at times, and several injuries to other key players, including Miguel Amaya, last weekend. It's truly an impressive feat to watch this team accomplish all they have so far, and there are plenty of reasons for fans to be excited about what's to come this season. However, despite the team's performance so far this season, there are still several areas for improvement, with the back of their bullpen and the starting rotation being the two biggest needs. Sure, guys like Colin Rea, Matthew Boyd, and even Cade Horton are looking good, but at some point, you have to think that some trades are going to be coming to improve this roster. When those trades occur and who they are for remains to be seen, but the Cubs have the prospects and the ammunition to make any trade they desire this season. Sticking with the starting rotation, the Cubs will be monitoring several names, with Sandy Alcantara being the one everyone is talking about. However, given his overall struggles on the mound this season, his trade value is declining, as concerns persist about his performance. If that is the case, two other options could be seen as fits for this team, even if they are on the older side when it comes to arms. Both have been Cy Young winners in the past, and one of them has even won an MVP, putting them in a position to turn their seasons around with this offense.
One of the two names being mentioned at this point may come as a shock, with Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob DeGrom becoming a trade candidate for the Cubs. DeGrom has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery over the past two seasons and has gotten off to a great start this year, sitting at 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA across 63 innings. He walked 14 and struck out 62, which has always been something he has been known for. What stands out most about DeGrom is his ability to throw hard, with a fastball sitting in the 98-100 MPH range, while also locating all of his offspeed pitches at any point in the count. Injuries have always been his biggest issue, which is why he has compiled an 88-59 record across his 12-year career, posting a 2.52 ERA. When healthy, he is one of the more dominant starters in the game, and he appears to be healthy this season. Put him in this rotation with the offense the Cubs had, and he could be a massive threat in the second half of the season.Jacob DeGrom
Chris Sale
The other name on this list has been discussed with the Cubs for a while now: left-hander Chris Sale. Coming off a career season with the Braves, where he went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA to earn the 2024 CY Young, Sale has picked up right where he left off and is off to a 2-3 start this season through 11 starts.
The under-.500 record doesn't tell the whole story, as the Braves have struggled since the jump, as the 3.36 ERA would suggest. Like DeGrom, Sale has had injuries in the past, which have limited him to a career record of 140-86 with an ERA just north of 3.00, currently at 3.05. He is also one of those individuals who has improved with age, and that alone makes him an intriguing addition to this team.
Not the hard thrower like DeGrom is, Sale is no slouch as he sits in the 95-96 MPH range with his fastball, but can touch 98 on occasions. His out pitch is the lethal 87 MPH back-foot slider, as that pitch has made hitters look silly for the entirety of his career. Like DeGrom, Sale has been victimized by a Braves offense that has underachieved this season.
Throw him in the Cubs rotation with the offense they have, and he will be tough to beat. Whatever the Cubs do from here on out, expect them to be one of the more active teams at the deadline, as Chicago knows the team they have and knows what's in front of them this season.
