The Chicago Cubs are trade deadline buyers, but the tough task they'll have this season is winning the battle for the limited resources of sellers.
Major League Baseball's expanded playoff format has made more teams hang on at the deadline, or even buy aggressively, than ever before. A .500 team no longer seems like a potential seller, and in some cases, that team might go all-in on making the playoffs.
However, across town, the last-place Chicago White Sox are in the middle of a grueling rebuild. They'll be selling; it's just a question of what they have to offer and whether any of it might be useful to the Cubs.
According to one baseball writer, there's a veteran White Sox starting pitcher whose recent hot streak should earn him a look across town.
On Monday, Jack Ankony of White Sox on SI pointed out that 32-year-old Adrian Houser could be a Cubs trade fit, thanks to the North Siders' lack of proven starting pitching depth and his 1.90 ERA through seven starts this season.
Houser's trade value is nearing an all-time personal high. There might be some benefit in keeping him around to mentor a young White Sox pitching staff, but the White Sox are still a few years away from competing," Ankony wrote.
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"It's also a logical deal from the Cubs' perspective. With Justin Steele out for the season, they clearly need another starting pitcher and bullpen help. Slotting Houser into a mid-rotation starting role would allow the Cubs to move Colin Rea, Ben Brown or Cade Horton to the bullpen and boost the pitching staff in multiple ways."
Houser has never been anything close to an All-Star, so buying into a seven-start hot streak is a risky proposition for the Cubs. But there's reason to believe he could stay hot a while longer (look at his 3.23 FIP and 94th percentile fastball run value as supporting arguments).
Ultimately, if all the White Sox are looking for is a mid-level prospect or two, the Cubs can knock themselves out. That also doesn't preclude them from adding another starter if their heart desires.
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