The Chicago Cubs are in clear need of starting pitching depth—and not just from the anticipated return of injured left-hander Shota Imanaga.
While Imanaga’s comeback from a hamstring injury is promising—especially after two dominant rehab starts in the Arizona Complex League and an expected next step at Triple-A Iowa—it won’t be enough to shore up a rotation thinned by injuries. Even with Cade Horton pitching well enough to keep his spot, and one of Ben Brown or Colin Rea likely moving to the bullpen once Imanaga returns, depth remains a critical issue following Justin Steele’s season-ending injury.
One possible solution could come from across town.
Top veteran star, recently acquired by the Chicago White Sox from the Milwaukee Brewers, is already rumored to be on the move again. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the White Sox are expected to trade the 30-year-old before the July 31 deadline, with hopes of landing a couple of mid-tier prospects.
That’s a price the Cubs may be willing to pay.
Civale, who asked for a trade from Milwaukee after being demoted to the bullpen, has a solid track record despite a 4.91 ERA in six starts this year and time missed with a hamstring strain. His career numbers—40-37 with a 4.06 ERA, 596 strikeouts, and 177 walks in 658.1 innings—make him a dependable back-end starter. Though not an All-Star, he’s been a stabilizing presence and has experience contributing to a playoff push, as he did with the Rays in 2023.
For a team like the Cubs with playoff aspirations and a rotation in flux, adding Civale as a short-term solution—without a long-term financial commitment—could be a smart move to stabilize the staff down the stretch.