With a 45-28 record, the Chicago Cubs are having one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball. They are tied with the New York Mets for the second-best record in MLB.
They hold a six-and-a-half game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central.
Chicago’s dominance is a result of a top 5 offense and the best bullpen since April 19. The starting rotation is questionable without Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, but Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton have been great.
Ben Brown and Colin Rea have been shaky and inconsistent, so targeting starting pitching at the trade deadline is a necessity.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand named 14 trade candidates and their potential landing spots, and the Cubs were listed for an American League veteran lefty.
Los Angeles Angel Tyler Anderson could be a nice fit in Chicago as a back-end starter.
“Anderson has gotten knocked around in three June starts (0-2, 9.00 ERA), but the left-hander pitched to a 3.39 ERA in his first 11 outings and would be a quality mid-rotation addition for most contenders,” wrote Feinsand.
Anderson, 35, is 2-4 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in 14 starts this season.
The two-time All-Star could be a good fit at Wrigley Field, boasting just a 3.9 home run percentage.
The Angels are currently 35-37 and six-and-a-half games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. They are only two games back from the third AL wild card, but the Angels will likely be sellers at the deadline.
