The Chicago Cubs starting pitching has looked great the past two nights and hasn't surrendered a run. But here's the catch: they're playing the New York Mets. Theo Epstein and the front office still need to upgrade that department.
Chicago was on a five-game losing streak before strolling into Citi Field to face the Mets, who have scored 29 runs in their past 15 games. The Cubs' starters had a 6.56 ERA during their five-game slide against the much more offensively adept St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Trade rumors have surrounded the Cubs for much of the season as many believe they are going to acquire a starter before the deadline and then sign another high-profile one in the offseason. Signs point to the team going after a young established starter with two or three years of club control left before July 31.
In the last week, we've taken a stab at those rumors and posited they could go after San Diego Padres' starters Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross or New York Yankees' starters Nathan Eovaldi and Adam Warren. The latest rumors find there could be some traction regarding one of these moves.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports as well as ESPN Insiders Buster Olney and Jim Bowden think the San Diego Padres could wind up being sellers at the deadline and some of their pitchers, including Cashner could be up for grabs.
"The Padres could consider anything, though, and that includes deals for young pitchers Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross as well as veteran Ian Kennedy, another free agent to be," Heyman wrote in his latest edition of Inside Baseball.
Heyman even went as far as proposing a trade between the Pads and Cubs, suggesting Chicago sends Starlin Castro and Javier Baez to San Diego in exchange for Cashner and a prospect.
Bowden thinks Cashner could be a viable trade candidate as well.
"If they don't turn it around by the deadline, they'll have no choice but to sell ... A free agent after the 2016 season, Cashner's trade value is still high despite his slow start."
However, there are some issues with Heyman's proposed deal, or any deal for that matter. Padres' GM A.J. Preller was not willing to trade Cashner in the offseason and it's unknown if he'd be willing to do so now. Despite his 3-9 record and 4.22 ERA, the right-hander still has much potential and San Diego could work out a reasonable contract extension with him.
As for the Cubs, it's doubtful they'd be willing to deplete their middle infield depth by trading Castro and Baez. It's been said Chicago is looking to hold on to their top prospects and Baez could fall under that list. Additionally, the trade rumors surrounding Starlin Castro have not been very revealing, if Epstein even is going to trade him, it's hard to believe he'll part ways with a solid shortstop under a team-friendly contract for one and a half years of Cashner.
There's less than a month left before the trade deadline and Chicago will undoubtedly chase a starter in that time frame. Cashner fits the bill for the Cubs, but it's unknown if he'll be on the block or if the Cubs would be willing to pay for him if the price is high.
It's still something to keep an eye on.
