The Chicago Cubs are expected to be buyers ahead of the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline.
One area of need for the Cubs is in the rotation, as Chicago has had some key injuries to the rotation. If the Cubs do add a pitcher, MLB analyst Zachary Rotman of FanSided expects Chicago to send down struggling left-handed starter Jordan Wicks.
“Once upon a time, Jordan Wicks seemingly had a chance to earn a spot in the Cubs' starting rotation long-term,” Rotman wrote. "Unfortunately, he's been limited to just three appearances and hasn't made a single start at the MLB level this season…
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“The Cubs needed a starting pitcher even with Taillon healthy,” Rotman added. “Taillon’s injury will only add to their urgency to add a starter. They can do so and keep whomever they were going to remove from the rotation, presumably Colin Rea, as a starter until Taillon comes back healthy. This would ensure Wicks, a pitcher who has not established himself as MLB-caliber and one who has options, would get sent down to Triple-A.”
Wicks is 25 and is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 3 games this season over 5.1 innings. He was drafted in the first round in 2021 by Chicago and was expected to compete for a rotation spot this season, but he has struggled this season after making 10 starts for the Cubs last season.
Even if Chicago does option Wicks, it would give him a chance to develop even more and compete for a rotation spot in 2026.
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