The Chicago Cubs just lost one of their star pitchers, Shota Imanaga, to free agency. Even while he was having a down year, the Cubs have some big shoes to fill.
Luckily for them, a division rival might have the answer they need. Fansided’s Zachary Rotman believes the Cubs can trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for their ace, Freddy Peralta, who they are putting up for trade.
“As dumb as trading Peralta sounds on paper, the Brewers can get a ton back for the right-hander who is likely to leave after the 2026 campaign as a free agent anyway, and they've historically done well with these trades. One team in dire need of starting pitching that will be unwilling to spend big money for it is the Chicago Cubs, so they'd presumably be all over a Peralta trade,” Rotman wrote.
It is unusual for the Brewers to put their ace on the block after having their best season ever and advancing to the NLCS. This past season, Peralta posted a record of 17-6, a 2.70 ERA, 204 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.075 over 176 innings pitched. He also earned his second All-Star nod since 2021.
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If the Cubs could somehow land Peralta, he would be an amazing upgrade from Imanaga. Combining him with Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Justin Steele when he returns, the Cubs could have the best rotation in the NL Central.
Hopefully, the Cubs can get a trade for Peralta without giving up too much due to being division rivals. If they can, the sky’s the limit for their franchise.
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