As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Chicago Cubs are reportedly prioritizing an upgrade to their starting rotation. With the deadline set for July 31, speculation is building around potential moves — and one MLB insider believes the Cubs should be willing to trade top prospects to land a reliable arm.
In a recent column for The Athletic, Jim Bowden proposed five potential trades he’d like to see happen before the deadline, including a deal that would send Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller to Chicago. In return, Bowden suggests the Cubs part with highly regarded prospects Owen Caissie (outfielder) and Cristian Hernandez (infielder).
Bowden argued that the Cubs are in urgent need of a quality starter following Justin Steele’s season-ending elbow surgery in April, and Keller could be the right fit. Despite a 4-10 win-loss record, Keller holds a respectable 3.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and has tallied 97 strikeouts in 125 innings across 21 starts this season. The 29-year-old is under contract for $55.7 million through 2027.
“The Cubs must strengthen their rotation to fend off the Brewers and take the NL Central,” Bowden wrote.
In the proposed trade, Pittsburgh would gain a “major-league-ready” power bat in Caissie, who has been on several teams’ radars as a top trade candidate. Bowden emphasized that the Pirates, who rank last in MLB in both runs scored and home runs, would benefit greatly from Caissie’s offensive potential.
The 23-year-old has been hitting .278 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage in Triple-A this season, adding 23 doubles and 20 home runs. Hernandez, meanwhile, is a promising 21-year-old middle infielder with strong speed, hitting .272 with 36 stolen bases at High-A.
Currently holding a 60-42 record — just one game behind the division-leading Brewers (61-41) — the Cubs are expected to be aggressive as they look to claim the NL Central crown. They’ll begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.