With the MLB trade deadline just days away, the Chicago Cubs are expected to aggressively pursue starting pitching as they attempt to overcome a wave of injuries that has severely depleted their rotation. Despite remaining in the postseason race, the Cubs’ biggest weakness has become their pitching staff, making the acquisition of a reliable starter one of the organization’s top priorities.
Chicago has endured a difficult season on the injury front, losing several key members of its starting rotation for extended periods. Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd have all spent time on the injured list, forcing the club to constantly shuffle its pitching plans.
The situation became even more challenging when promising rookie Cade Horton underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season and further reducing the team’s rotation depth. With so many starters unavailable, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer now faces mounting pressure to reinforce the pitching staff before the trade deadline.
According to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, one pitcher who could emerge as a major target is Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers. Sharma believes the Cubs are willing to part with a significant trade package if it means acquiring a controllable starter who can contribute immediately and remain part of the rotation beyond this season.
Rather than pursuing a short-term rental, Chicago appears focused on adding a pitcher with long-term value. Detmers fits that description perfectly, as he remains under team control through the 2028 season, giving the Cubs a potential cornerstone for both their current playoff push and future campaigns.
Although Detmers owns a 4.05 ERA through 21 starts this season, his overall performance suggests there is far more upside than his traditional statistics indicate. The talented left-hander has averaged an impressive 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, demonstrating the swing-and-miss ability that many front offices covet. He also carries a pitching run value of 12, highlighting his effectiveness beyond conventional numbers.
Those advanced metrics have helped maintain Detmers’ strong trade value around the league. His ability to generate strikeouts, combined with his age and multiple years of club control, makes him one of the more attractive starting pitchers potentially available before the deadline.
For the Cubs, acquiring Detmers would solve more than just an immediate problem. Several members of Chicago’s current rotation are scheduled to reach free agency after the season, making it increasingly important for the organization to secure long-term pitching stability now rather than waiting until the offseason.
Sharma noted that the current trade market favors sellers because relatively few teams are willing to move quality starting pitchers. That scarcity is expected to drive up asking prices, meaning Chicago would likely need to surrender a premium package of prospects or young major league talent to convince the Angels to complete a deal.
From the Angels’ perspective, there is little urgency to trade Detmers unless an overwhelming offer arrives. Los Angeles still views the 26-year-old as someone capable of developing into one of the top starters in its rotation over the next several seasons. Because of that, the Angels are unlikely to move him without receiving substantial value in return.
Even so, the Cubs may determine that paying a steep price is worthwhile. With their rotation battered by injuries and postseason aspirations still very much alive, adding a durable, controllable starter like Detmers could provide the stability needed to remain competitive down the stretch while also strengthening the pitching staff for years to come.
As the trade deadline approaches, all eyes will be on whether Chicago is willing to meet the Angels’ high asking price in pursuit of one of the market’s most intriguing young pitchers.
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