The Cubs are still looking for rotation help.
The Chicago Cubs are riding high after taking two out of three from their hated rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. They have a four-game lead in the National League Central.
At 54-36, the Cubs own the second-best record in the Senior Circuit, and are almost certain to be buyers at this year's trade deadline. The team needs some help on the mound.
Justin Steele is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Jameson Taillon recently went on the injured list with a calf strain. He'll be out for at least a month.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cubs still have their sights set on a certain Pittsburgh Pirates starter.
"The Cubs’ urgency to find another starter accelerated when they placed veteran Jameson Taillon on the injured list with a calf strain, sidelining him for at least a month. They continue to pursue Pirates starter Mitch Keller, but his price tag is soaring with Keller yielding a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts, including seven scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals," Nightengale wrote.
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The Cubs may be running away with the NL Central. But Keller's price tag is certainly going to be high.
The former All-Star is 3-10 due to a lack of run support, but has posted a 3.64 ERA in 18 starts with the Pirates. He would certainly benefit the Cubs rotation.
It remains to be seen if the Cubs will be willing to part with top prospects in order to get a deal done. If his price tag is rising, then it will certainly take some key prospects to pull it off.
Trades within the same division are exceptionally rare, but the Pirates are well out of contention, while the Cubs could be pulling away and putting the division race out of reach.
A move such as this would help them cement themselves as one of the top teams in the National League down the stretch. We'll see if the Cubs decide to make a trade for Keller.
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Category: Baseball
