Potential Trade Deadline Destinations for Chicago Cubs Ace Stroman
While the MLB trade deadline might be two months away, the Chicago Cubs plan to be active participants. Whether it's buying or selling, the 24-31 Cubs need help. They sit last in the National League Central and five games back of first place.
While the Cubs won their recent series against the Tampa Bay Rays, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and General Manager Carter Hawkins are already making their trade deadline plans.
Adding longevity will be key.
That means in order to buy, there will need to be some players heading to new clubs. One of those to be shopped could be Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Stroman is arguably having the best year of his career. The right-hander is 5-4 with a 2.59 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP and is among the ERA leaders in the National League.
He's playing well and is one of their strongest arms. Stroman has expressed a desire to have an extension and not be traded. Additionally, he is seen as a rental, only furthering the prospect he could be traded. The Cubs higher-ups may find it beneficial to shop up.
So where would he likely get traded?
LIKELY: The Philadelphia Phillies need starting pitching now. Yesterday would have been ideal for them.
Ideally, four starting pitchers should be needed for a solid postseason run. At best, the Phillies have two right now.
Right-hander Zack Wheeler pitched eight shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, lowering his ERA to 3.60 and a 1.14 WHIP. Second righty ace Aaron Nola is less consistent. He's 4-4 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Both Taijun Walker (4-2, 5.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) and left-hander Ranger Suárez (0-2, 7.10 ERA, 1.64 WHIP) aren't reliable through more than five innings.
Since sending Bailey Falter back down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, there's no one reliable to round it out.
Stroman would be another reliable ace for the Phillies. Going six innings would be a benefit for Philly's rotation and provide more stability.
LIKELY: Another team who could benefit from a Stroman trade is the New York Yankees. They need another veteran arm in the rotation.
While his contact-pitching style may be a questionable choice to move to Yankee Stadium, he could prove to be an effective middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.
Adding Stroman would form one of the strongest pitching rotations in the MLB. He'd join a solid lineup of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Luis Severino.
Carlos Rodon is also currently in a rehab assignment, so the Yankees could use the extra help.
POTENTIAL: It might be less feasible but the Houston Astros are another option for Chicago to ship Stroman. General manager Dana Brown made it clear with his "aggressive" approach strategy on Wednesday.
Currently, Houston has a number of injuries. Right-hander Luis Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery. Rotation mainstay Lance McCullers Jr. suffered a setback. Jose Urquidy will be out for another month with a shoulder injury.
Stroman will fill the void for Houston. If the Astros want to spend the prospect capital, he's a worthwhile addition. He's got the experience to be a solid addition for a postseason run.
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