The Chicago Cubs continue to search for a quality playoff-caliber starting pitcher as we approach the July 31 trade deadline.
Chicago has been one of the top teams in Major League Baseball, staying atop the National League Central for most of the season until the Milwaukee Brewers caught fire and took a one-game lead.
The Cubs’ starting rotation has two reliable pitchers, Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga, but that won’t be enough if the team wants to have a deep postseason run.
The team may trade a pitcher who hasn’t taken advantage of his time on the big-league club to acquire more pitching.
The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma predicts that the Cubs will trade left-hander Jordan Wicks by the trade deadline.
“The Cubs are clear buyers searching for pitching. Wicks just hasn’t gotten the job done for them this season in his big-league opportunities,” wrote Sharma. “But he still has value as a future starter. It could benefit Wicks and the team he’s moved to if he’s allowed to just pitch through struggles without the concern of a playoff race hovering over him.”
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Wicks, 25, was selected 21st overall by the Cubs in the 2021 MLB Draft. He hasn’t done well in his short career in Chicago, bouncing between Triple-A Iowa and the big leagues.
In four appearances this season, Wicks is 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA and a 2.40 WHIP. In his career, he is 6-6 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 22 appearances (17 starts).
A change of scenery could really benefit Wicks, but which team would take a flier on him?
A team like the Pittsburgh Pirates would allow Wicks to pitch every fifth day with little-to-no pressure and they could be interested in acquiring him in a deal for Mitch Keller or David Bednar.
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