At the trade deadline, it appears that the Chicago Cubs will be buyers rather than sellers. The Cubs are only one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central with a 25-20 record. So far, the Cubs rotation, which is anchored by Justin Steele and Shōta Imanaga, has shown to be effective. But according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Justin Verlander has a limited list of teams he could agree a trade to, which includes the Cubs.
“Reliable sources indicate that Verlander could be receptive to Detroit.” The Cubs, Orioles (where he is from), and Dodgers are considered three additional teams that Verlander would be fond of, Heyman reported.
The 41-year-old is currently in his 19th big league season. Should things not improve in the near future, the Houston Astros may begin to move pieces. But Heyman noted that the Astros “aren’t ones to surrender easily.”
Cub Rotation
Imanaga, a free agent from Japan, inked a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cubs. In eight starts, the 30-year-old has a 0.96 ERA and is 5-0. In his 46 2/3 innings pitched, he has struck out 51 batters.
The Cubs selected Justin Steele as their opening-day starter. Unfortunately, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian reports that he left the game on opening day due to a “Grade 1 strain” in his left hamstring. After his comeback on May 6, Steele has had difficulty. In his first game back, he pitched 4 2/3 innings without giving up a run, but in his following two games, he gave up 11 earned runs.
Despite having the third-worst bullpen ERA, the Cubs have the No. 12 team ERA. While Steele was down, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad filled in for Imanaga in the Cubs rotation. After nine outings, Assad’s ERA is 1.49. After five outings, Taillon’s ERA is 1.61.
Verlander’s addition would greatly improve the Cubs rotation. But it would also enable them to transfer the struggling Kyle Hendricks to the bullpen. Hendricks missed his first five starts due to injury. This season, his ERA is at 10.04.
Verlander Might Strengthen the Cubs’ Offence
Verlander started the season on the injured list due to a shoulder injury that led him to halt his offseason throwing program. The experienced pitcher, a three-time Cy Young Award Winner and the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player, could provide valuable leadership to the youthful Cubs pitching staff. Despite a 3.38 ERA in five starts, his performance was affected by a high-scoring game against the New York Yankees. Notably, three of his five starts met the criteria for quality starts.
According to Heyman, potential teams Verlander might consider waiving his no-trade clause for include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, and the Detroit Tigers. While the Astros have not shown intentions to sell, if they do, Heyman suggests that Verlander could be a top trade candidate.
Having initially signed a two-year, $86 million contract with the New York Mets in 2023 before being traded back to the Astros mid-season, Verlander’s deal includes a $35 million option for 2025, contingent on him pitching 140 innings this season.
As a nine-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion, Verlander’s presence could significantly bolster any team’s starting rotation aiming for a deep playoff run, potentially leading to another championship victory if he is traded to a competitive team.
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