The Chicago Cubs enter the offseason with a clear set of priorities after another early postseason exit.
Multiple starting pitchers are heading to free agency, leaving the rotation thin beyond question marks like Edward Cabrera and the injury-delayed returns of Justin Steele and Cade Horton.
Carson Kelly is also a free agent, creating an opening at catcher, while corner outfield production could thin if Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki depart.
Rather than chasing only the most discussed names, several under-the-radar trade candidates fit these gaps without requiring the largest prospect packages.
Taj Bradley
The Minnesota Twins right-hander offers the velocity and strikeout upside the Cubs have lacked.
After a breakout 2026 that included a 3.73 ERA across more than 170 innings and a career-high in strikeouts, Bradley profiles as a durable mid-rotation arm rather than a pure rental.
Still only 25 and under control through 2029, he would immediately raise the staff’s average fastball velocity while providing multi-year stability. A deal would not require surrendering the absolute top of the farm, making him a more attainable alternative to Joe Ryan if the Twins prioritize building around their younger core.
Hunter Goodman
Catcher remains an underrated need once Kelly hits free agency, and the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman is a natural fit.
He hit 41 home runs in 2026, one of the rarest power outputs ever recorded by a catcher, while playing for a last-place club. Chicago could install him as the everyday starter alongside Miguel Amaya, adding right-handed thump that pairs with Pete Crow-Armstrong in the middle of the order.
The Rockies finished 58-104, so they may be more open to moving a breakout talent than a contender would be, especially if the return addresses their own pitching deficiencies.
Shane McClanahan
Left-handed starting depth is another soft spot, and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan addresses it at a manageable cost. He posted a 3.36 ERA in 2026 despite a modest strikeout total, showing he can still miss bats and limit damage when healthy.
Multiple injury setbacks have kept his trade value lower than his raw talent, and the Rays’ surplus of arms makes him movable. In Chicago he would slot as a solid third or fourth starter rather than an ace, giving the club a reliable lefty without the price tag of a true frontline free agent.
Eury Perez
Miami’s Eury Perez remains under-discussed relative to his upside.
The 23-year-old threw 159 innings in 2026 with a 3.91 ERA and 170 strikeouts, featuring a fastball that regularly sits in the upper 90s. Walks remain an issue, but his youth, size, and raw stuff give the Cubs a developmental project with legitimate frontline ceiling.
After previously acquiring Cabrera from the Marlins, Chicago knows the organization, and Perez’s remaining control years make him a long-term piece rather than a short-term patch. Addressing command would unlock one of the higher-upside arms available on the trade market.
