Cubs trade idea lands two All-Star pitchers from Royals for huge return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs are in the hunt for the postseason, but there are some clear issues with the team. While the offense isn’t performing as well as it was to begin the season, the pitching staff is the real issue.
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Looking at the rotation, Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Matthew Boyd are all hurt. Shota Imanaga and the rest of the starters, besides Ben Brown, are struggling. If there is one team that needs starting rotation help this season, it’s the Cubs.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed one trade idea for the Cubs to get the pitching help they need. This idea would have the Cubs linking up with the Kansas City Royals and landing not just one, but two All-Star pitchers in a massive trade.
Cubs trade idea with Royals lands two All-Star starting pitchers in wild deal
“The Trade: Kansas City Royals send RHP Seth Lugo and RHP Michael Wacha to the Chicago Cubs for IF Jefferson Rojas, OF Kevin Alcantara, and RHP Jaxon Wiggins,” Miller writes.
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While the Cubs giving up Alcantara, Rojas, and Wiggins would be a lot to move on from in one trade, being able to bring in both Lugo and Wacha would be a massive win.
Lugo is a 36-year-old right-handed veteran and former All-Star who is under contract on a two-year, $46 million deal with a 2028 club option.
Wacha is 34 years old, also a right-hander and former All-Star who is under contract through 2027 like Lugo, but on a three-year, $51 million deal with a 2028 club option.
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Both pitchers would be very nice pickups for the Cubs’ rotation, as they don’t just need high-end talent, but they need depth as well, with the injuries piling up.
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And with Imanaga and Taillon both hitting free agency after the 2026 season comes to a close, having Wacha and Lugo as replacements already on the roster would be a big help.
This season, Wacha has a 3.44 ERA while Lugo has a 3.91 ERA. While they might not be having the All-Star caliber seasons they had in recent years, it’s still better than what they’ve been getting out of their rotation.
While yes, the package of Rojas, Wiggins, and Alcantara would be a lot to give up, and might be a long-term mistake, the Cubs would keep Matt Shaw and all of their MLB-caliber players, while bringing in two All-Star pitchers to bolster the rotation.
