(670 The Score) On the Spiegel & Holmes Show on Wednesday evening, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi implored the Cubs to follow through on their vow to be aggressive in the trade market.
“The Cubs need to be the Cubs,” Morosi said. “And by that I mean they need to be the big-market team in the third-largest city in our country and make a massive trade — or at least an impactful one — at the end of July to really address what is their clearest need, which is a legitimate guy to start Game 1 or Game 2 of a postseason series. That’s what the Cubs need, and that’s exactly the kind of move they should make before July 31.”
Morosi mentioned a familiar name for the Cubs to potentially pursue in Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara, but he continues to struggle with a 6.98 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 16 starts this season. A pitcher whom Morosi likes more as a fit for the Cubs is Royals left-hander Kris Bubic, who has a 2.25 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 16 starts this season.
He’s making $3 million this season and is arbitration-eligible in 2026 before being scheduled to hit free agency after that.
“He’s the kind of guy who’s going to command a major price tag,” Morosi said. “That’s the kind of guy who’s probably going to be outside the scope of the Brewers but should not be outside the scope of the Cubs.”
Morosi mentioned right-hander Ben Brown as a potential trade chip in a package for Bubic, given that Brown is struggling these days and the Cubs should be in win-now mode.
“You hired Craig Counsell to go for it,” Morosi said. “And now you’ve got a chance to finish ahead of Counsell’s former team and act like a large-market team. For me, Kris Bubic would be the announcement that the Cubs are really serious about winning in 2025.”