Chicago Cubs Urged to Roll the Dice on Underperforming $56 Million Starter

Cubs Eye Potential Pitching Help Despite Uncertain Trade Market

The Chicago Cubs are in dire need of starting pitching depth.

With Justin Steele ruled out for the season and Shota Imanaga sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Cubs are working hard just to stay afloat. While Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea have exceeded expectations, the rotation could still use a serious injection of talent.

The problem? Trade options are scarce.

Few teams have declared themselves sellers this early, and many players on bottom-dwelling teams haven’t performed well enough to justify a deal. One such case is Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara — once considered a top target for contenders at this year’s deadline — who has seen his value drop considerably after a rough start to the season.

Despite this, Brad Wakai of Cubs on SI believes Alcantara might still be worth a look — especially as a potential buy-low candidate.

“Acquiring Alcantara would be a gamble for the Cubs,” Wakai wrote. “The 2022 NL Cy Young winner hasn’t looked the same since returning from Tommy John surgery and holds an ugly 8.42 ERA through seven starts, with a career-low strikeout rate of 6.7 per nine innings.”

Still, there’s hope. Wakai points to Alcantara’s above-average Stuff+ rating, indicating he could rebound if he sharpens his command.

The 29-year-old righty, who has allowed seven home runs and issued walks at a 12.5% clip over 36 2/3 innings, hasn’t lived up to his past reputation. But his contract — $56 million through 2026 with a $21 million club option for 2027 — is considered a bargain for a frontline starter.

If Alcantara shows signs of turning things around, the Cubs would be wise to remain open to the possibility.

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