The Chicago Cubs will be buyers leading up to the MLB trade deadline on July 31, with a focus reportedly on starting pitching, third base and relievers. While Chicago is certainly scouring the market to examine a plethora of options, a few specific players appear to be their focus.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic provided some intel ahead of the MLB trade deadline on all 30 teams. Regarding Chicago, he said the team’s top priority is to acquire a starting pitcher with six names in their sights. So, we’re ranking the six Cubs trade targets in terms of how they should be prioritized.
1. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Most would understandably think that Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young Award winner, should headline the list of Cubs trade targets. However, we believe Pittsburgh Pirates‘ All-Star Mitch Keller is the more cost-effective and safer bet for Chicago.
- Mitch Keller stats (ESPN): 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 92-27 K-BB ratio, .237 batting average allowed, .644 OPS allowed in 119 innings pitched
One reason for that is that Keller’s contract is more team-friendly. Alcantara carries a $17.3 million salary in 2025 and could be retained for the following two seasons for $39.3 million total ($19.65 million AAV). Keller, on the other hand, makes $15.411 million this season and is under team control for the following three seasons at $55.733 million total ($18.58 million AAV). Keller is also thriving amid the added pressure of popping up in MLB trade rumors (1.96 ERA in last six starts) while Alcantara’s career-worst season continues.
Related: Mitch Keller trade landing spots
2. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
Most would understandably think that Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young Award winner, should headline the list of Cubs trade targets. However, we believe Alcantara is a riskier target for Chicago than Mitch Keller for several reasons.
First, the Marlins reportedly still have a very high asking price for the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, even amid his struggles in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. There won’t be any discount here. Second, after some positive hope for an imminent turnaround in late June (2.74 ERA in four starts), Alcantara has posted an 8.61 ERA while allowing 32 hits and five walks in his last 23 innings pitched.
- Sandy Alcantara stats (ESPN): 7.14 ERA, 149 WHIP, 73-39 K-BB, .275 batting average allowed, .786 OPS allowed in 97 innings
The upside is undeniable. He is a two-time All-Star who compiled a 2.74 ERA with a 447-115 K-BB ratio (3.89 K/BB) across 476.1 innings pitched from 2020 through 2022. If the Cubs’ pitching coaches can get him back to that form, even next season, he’s an ace on the bargain of a two-year contract. Alcantara is very much a high-risk, high-reward play.
3. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Again, this might be a bit more of a divisive ranking of the Cubs trade targets. Most view Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen as being more coveted than his teammate. However, if examining the safest options for Chicago, Merrill Kelly is a better option to fill the void in the Cubs rotation this season.
- Merrill Kelly stats (ESPN): 3.32 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 118-37 K-BB, .205 batting average allowed, .623 OPS allowed in 122 innings
Over the last four seasons, Kelly owns a 3.42 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and a 2.93 K/BB ratio. This season, the 36-year-old has a career-best in WHIP (1.06) and is holding opponents under a .660 OPS for the third time in four seasons. Gallen has a higher ceiling, but that also comes with a lower floor and Arizona likely wants more for him in return than it would dealing Kelly.
Related: Chicago Cubs game today, Cubs schedule 2025
4. Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
As with Kelly, Gallen is on an expiring contract. The 29-year-old is also a former All-Star selection who earned All-MLB First Team honors in 2023 after posting a 3.47 ERA with a 220-47 K-BB line and holding opponents to a .666 OPS in 210 innings. Unfortunately, in a contract year, his numbers have plummeted in 2025.
- Zac Gallen stats (ESPN): 5.58 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 116-46 K-BB, .255 batting average allowed, .788 OPS allowed in 121 innings pitched
Gallen’s K-BB rate has plummeted in recent years from 20.3 percent (2022-23) to 16.4 percent (2024) and it now sits at 13.4 percent this season. As part of that, his Swinging Strike rate has dropped from 11.2 percent (2023) to 9.9 percent (2025). He’s allowing a career-worst Hard Hit rate (47.3 percent) and he’s in the 10th percentile or worse for expected ERA (5.03), Pitching Run Value (-17) and Barrel Rate (12 percent), per Baseball Savant. He’s the ultimate dice roll.
Related: Chicago Cubs Interested in Trade for Gold Glover
5. Charlie Morton, Baltimore Orioles
After defying Father Time for so many years, 41-year-old starting pitcher Charlie Morton has seemingly lost the battle in 2025. He was brutal in his first eight starts, posting a 9.76 ERA with a 26-21 K-BB ratio and allowing seven home runs. Then, he seemed to turn things around, compiling a 2.70 ERA with a 54-15 K-BB ratio and just two home runs allowed in nine starts from May 17 to July 10.
- Charlie Morton stats (ESPN): 5.58 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 92-41 K-BB, .276 batting average allowed, .805 OPS allowed
However, Morton allowed 11 baserunners and seven earned runs (including two home runs) in a July 18 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Given his recent struggles, if Chicago acquires him, the expectation should be that he is a back-end starter with upside as a mid-rotation arm.
Related: MLB Trade Deadline Predictions, including the Cubs
6. Tomoyuki Sugano, Baltimore Orioles
As with his Baltimore Orioles teammate, Tomoyuki Sugano is an older pitcher who would serve as a back-end starter for Chicago. The 35-year-old right-hander has been inconsistent in his first season stateside. He looked great in May (2.79 ERA), but his 5.30 FIP and 34 baserunners allowed in 29 innings suggested regression would come.
- Tomoyuki Sugano stats (ESPN): 4.54 ERA< 1.35 WHIP, 63-26 K-BB, .274 batting average allowed, .785 OPS allowed in 103 innings
Sugano’s ERA dipped to 3.48 in June, despite surrendering five home runs in five starts. However, he has compiled a 6.69 ERA with nine home runs allowed and a 28-16 K-BB ratio in his last eight starts (39 innings). Sugano provides pitching depth but is not the caliber of starter who should be anywhere near a playoff rotation.
