The Chicago Cubs have been great through the first month and a half of the season. Chicago presently leads the National League Central division with a 19-13 record. Their offense has led the way, establishing themselves as one of the finest in baseball.
In contrast, their pitching has been ordinary. While their bullpen has been terrible, their rotation has been above-average. Players like as Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Colin Rea have helped the Cubs’ rotation achieve a 3.59 ERA, which is the seventh-best in baseball.
But, despite their domination, the departure of Ace Justin Steele is significant. This has prompted some Cubs supporters to beg the front management to make a move to bolster the rotation. According to a recent post by Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, former Cy Young champion Sandy Alcantara will soon return to Chicago.
“They’ve lost Justin Steele for the year to elbow surgery,” according to Kelly. “And, as much as they hope to keep Kyle Tucker beyond 2025, they are only guaranteed one season with the great outfielder, who will have plenty of suitors in free agency this winter.
Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations, will have to give up more than he is comfortable with to get Alcántara, but he will get a workhorse for up to three postseason runs.” Sandy had a difficult start.
However, the previous Cy Young Award winner’s season has not started well. Since returning from Tommy-John surgery, the eighth-year veteran has pitched 26 innings with an 8.31 ERA and 1.654 WHIP. In addition, he has allowed four home runs while striking out only 19 batters and walking 17.
Critics claim that his poor start indicates that the procedure may have compromised his long-term viability. Another option is that he is simply rusty and hasn’t yet discovered his groove again.
He suffered an injury. Alcantara’s baseball savant profile shows that he still ranks in the 89th percentile, with an average fastball velocity of 97 MPH. In fact, his velocity with his changeup, sinker, four-seamer, slider, and curveball remains far higher than the league average.
The Cubs have the resources to trade for someone like Alcantara. According to MLB, Chicago currently has seven Top 100 prospects. Alantara has demonstrated the capacity to be a game changer on the mound, which might tip a prospective contender over the edge.
While the Cubs have gotten off to a tremendous start, their starting pitching is on thin ice. After losing Steele, the Cubs are just one injury away from having serious depth issues. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how long pitchers like Rea, Boyd, Taillon, and Imanaga can pitch well. Perhaps the Cubs should consider adding a power arm to a squad that ranks at the bottom of MLB in terms of velocity.
The other advantage of trading for Alcantara is his contract. This would not be an example of dealing for a player coming off injury with one year of control. The right-hander is under team control for another two seasons since he has a club option in 2027, pushing his free agency date to 2028.
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