The Chicago Cubs have put themselves in position through the first few weeks of the 2024 MLB season to contend for the NL Central title. They survived some early season injuries to key players such as Chase Bellinger and Sieya Suzuki and are positioned to remain in the playoff hunt.
That could certainly make them buyers ahead of the trade deadline later in the summer. When taking a look at their current roster, one area they could look to shore up is their pitching staff. The starting rotation has been stellar, led by import Shota Imanga, who has taken the MLB by storm after coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.
Chicago has already made one change to the back end of their bullpen, going from Adbert Alzolay to Hector Neris as their closer. Mark Leiter Jr. has been dominant out of the bullpen as well, but in a long MLB season, finding reinforcements is never a bad idea.
Who could the Chicago Cubs look to target? Oakland Athletics flamethrower Mason Miller is a name people are keeping tabs on. The Athletics have received calls on Miller already and have let prospective suitors know that the price won’t be cheap.
Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report has pitched the Cubs as a potential suitor for the Athletics closer. Miller is leading MLB in several categories and would be a huge upgrade for any bullpen around the league.
What could a trade for Miller look like? Rymer put together what a hypothetical blockbuster between the Chicago Cubs and Athletics may resemble. Prospects Kevin Alcantara, Owen Cassie and James Triantos would be on their way to Oakland.
“As steep as it is, this deal would allow the Cubs to keep all three of their best prospects: right-hander Cade Horton, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and third baseman Matt Shaw,” Rymer detailed. “Not ideal for the A’s, perhaps, but they would still have plundered a more-than-fair haul from the best farm system in MLB. Everyone would win, in other words.”
Given the reports on Miller, the Athletics could hold out for one of the top prospects in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. But, no one would fault them for taking a quantity over quality approach, especially since they are still getting back highly touted players.
Alcantara, Cassie and Triantos are all inside the top 10 of the Cubs system currently. Cassie came in at No. 3 over at MLB.com and is the closest to the majors, currently playing in Triple-A. Alcantara and Triantos are both in Double-A and all three players are 21 years old.
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