The Chicago Cubs are looking to separate themselves from the pack, and the trade deadline represents a major opportunity this year.
At 41-26, the Cubs have built themselves a five-game lead atop the National League Central. But if anything is going to derail their momentum, it's their iffy starting rotation.
Considering the Cubs have been without their top two starters for most of the season, they've done reasonably well to this point. Shota Imanaga will be back soon, it appears, but Justin Steele is done for the season, leaving a void that could easily be filled at the deadline.
Meanwhile, one of the Cubs' division rivals will almost certainly move on from a lefty with recent World Series credentials.
On Wednesday, Athlon's Sam Bernardi proposed a hypothetical trade that would land Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney. In return, the Cubs would send corner infield prospect Cole Mathis back to Pittsburgh.
"Heaney, at 34 years old and in the final year of his contract, should come at a reasonable price, even with an assumed division tax. He is putting together another solid year on the mound with a 3.24 ERA, a 4.37 FIP, and 52 strikeouts to 24 walks over 72 and 1/3 innings," Bernardi wrote.
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"He would fit in nicely alongside Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Colin Rea, while young guys like Ben Brown and Cade Horton could serve as long relievers."
Heaney won the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers, though he pitched out of the bullpen that postseason. The fact that he has that flexibility should be a bonus for Chicago, though, especially if the Cubs can somehow trade for multiple starters.
Plus, the lefty is on an extremely cheap one-year, $5.25 million contract. If Pittsburgh is willing to deal with a division rival, the Cubs should be all over Heaney.
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