The Chicago Cubs' lead in the National League Central has fallen to just two games over the Milwaukee Brewers, and 2 1/2 over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs may need to be aggressive at the trade deadline in order to hold off their rivals and win the division. Their starting rotation could be a focus. They will be without Justin Steele for the rest of the year, and Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea and Cade Horton all have ERAs over 4.00.
The Cubs are already in serious trade talks for a starting pitcher, Mitch Keller, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson suggested they could be a landing spot for Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins. Alcántara won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, but has struggled ever since.
Alcántara missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This year, he has a 6.98 ERA. However, he has shown some signs of life as of late. Before his seven-run outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, he had a 2.74 ERA in June. At his best, Alcántara is an ace that can carry a team.
The deadline may not have many starters available, and Alcántara may be the best option for the Cubs. He signed a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022 and has three years of club control left.
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The harsh reality is that even if Alcántara isn't a Cy Young Award-caliber pitcher anymore, he would still be an upgrade over someone like Rea or Brown. Alcántara also comes with the potential to find his form again. Perhaps a change of scenery and playing on a team with postseason aspirations could be the boost he needs.
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