The Chicago Cubs are leading the National League Central by 5 1/2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. However, they may need to add some pitching to win the division.
Cubs starters have a 3.98 ERA, which is ranked 16th in baseball. They will be without Justin Steele for the rest of the season, and Shōta Imanaga is on the injured list right now. AthlonSports’ Sterling Bennett suggested the Cubs could trade for Nathan Eovaldi of the Texas Rangers.
“Eovaldi has been on the injured list since May 29 due to a triceps injury, but the 35-year-old is eligible to return on Friday,” wrote Bennett. “If proven to be healthy, Eovaldi may be the most overlooked pitcher potentially on the trade block. The former two-time All-Star leads MLB with a 1.56 ERA, 0.808 WHIP, and one shutout across 69.1 innings. He may not have the name value of Sandy Alcantara or Zach Gallen, but his track record is far better, especially in the postseason.”
Eovaldi is a two-time World Series champion. He won with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and with the Rangers in 2023. He signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Rangers before that season and signed a new three-year, $75 million deal before this season. He is putting himself in the Cy Young Award race this season.
The Cubs could use an arm like his after Steele’s injury. However, his biggest asset to the Cubs would come in October. He is 9-3 as a starter in the postseason and has a 3.05 ERA in 17 games.
He would bring some much-needed experience to a Cubs rotation that lacks it. The Rangers would have to commit to being sellers first, however. The Rangers are three games under .500. They are 5 1/2 games back of the division lead and 3 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. If they do fall out of contention between now and the July 31 trade deadline, they could entertain trading Eovaldi.
