The Chicago Cubs are in the market for a starting pitcher at the MLB trade deadline. With Justin Steele done for the year, and after Jameson Taillon went down with an injury, the need became even more dire.
While Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have been great for the Cubs, a third starter is still needed, and a week from the MLB trade deadline, David Schoenfield of ESPN predicted that the Cubs would land a strong starter.
"Of the pitchers heading to free agency, (Seth) Lugo is the best combination of 'good' and 'likely to be traded,' and the Cubs should be the team most willing to offer what's needed to get him," Schoenfield wrote.
Seth Lugo is the Kansas City Royals starter, and while he has $15 million player option for 2026, he's expected to decline it and hit free agency. He's a rental, but that's not an issue for the Cubs.
This season, Lugo has been even better than his 2024 version, who finished runner-up to Tarik Skubal in AL Cy Young voting, and had a 3.00 ERA in 33 starts.
Through 19 starts in 2025, Lugo has a 2.95 ERA, 99 strikeouts, 33 walks, and a 1.088 WHIP. He has allowed a worrisome 17 home runs, and his FIP is 4.28, significantly higher than his ERA. But, overall, he's been great.
Lugo has shown enough over the past two years that he's worth investing in. Fortunately for the Cubs, their prospect strength and position players match what the Royals are looking for at the deadline.
The 35-year-old won't come cheap, but he'd be a worthwhile addition to the rotation with Boyd and Imanaga. But, as Schoenfield points out, there is one reason to be concerned about potentially adding Lugo.
"Neither Boyd nor Imanaga average a strikeout per inning, neither does Lugo, so there might be some concern about how that rotation plays in the postseason," Schoenfield added.
Those concerns may be overblown, but it's something to consider as the Cubs make their trade deadline plans. While Lugo would be a nice pickup, such a concern could steer the club in another direction.
Despite those worries, Schoenfield predicts that the Cubs and Royals could link up on a Lugo trade. It may cost a bit, but adding Lugo to the rotation would help round out the rotation as the Cubs look to contend in 2025.
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