The Chicago Cubs starters have a 3.93 ERA this season, which is in the bottom half of the league. They could be looking for starting pitchers at the trade deadline.
Justin Steele had season-ending elbow surgery, and Shōta Imanaga is on the injured list. Ben Brown, Matthew Boyd and company are being asked to fill the void, but the Cubs could use another reliable arm. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman suggested the Cubs could trade for Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Mitch Keller might not be as big of a name as Gallen or Alcantara, but he’s having the best season of the trio,” wrote Rotman. “Sure, his 4.13 ERA in 13 starts might not be anything to write home about, but it was at 3.73 before a recent rough outing, and he’s allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 appearances. His 3.24 FIP also suggests he’s gotten fairly unlucky.
“Keller is having a good season, is under control through the 2028 campaign, and is as durable as they come, but one burning question is whether the Pittsburgh Pirates would trade him, especially to a division rival. If the answer is yes, the Cubs should be interested. I’m skeptical the answer will be yes, though, at least without a major Cubs package.”
Keller signed a five-year, $77 million deal with the Pirates before last season. He was an All-Star in 2023 and could be a good addition for the Cubs in the second half of the season.
When Imanaga returns, the Cubs will have their ace back. However, adding an arm like Keller would provide some stability in the absence of Steele. He has a 4.55 career ERA, but has been reliable in terms of staying healthy and providing innings.