The Chicago Cubs entered the trade deadline with clear ambition under Jed Hoyer, addressing rotation depth, bullpen firepower, and lineup gaps in a series of moves that signaled genuine belief in the current roster.
Yet one controllable starting pitcher remained out of reach, leaving a notable hole that the front office may look to fill once the season ends: Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
Ryan O’Rourke of Cubbies Crib feels that Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels stands out as an ideal target. The southpaw offered two additional years of team control beyond 2026, a profile the Cubs lacked after their deadline activity.
His season numbers—a 4.03 ERA paired with a strong 3.34 FIP—hinted at underlying quality that could translate into consistent mid-rotation production.
Velocity around 94 mph, a 28.3 percent strikeout rate, and a career-low walk rate further supported the case for acquiring him. Even in a staff already featuring several lefties, Detmers would have brought a distinct mix of swing-and-miss ability and improved command.
Early reports briefly suggested a deal was imminent, only for those accounts to be walked back as the Cubs instead secured Clay Holmes and Braxton Garrett.
Hoyer had clearly inquired about both Detmers and fellow Angel Jose Soriano, but the conversations never advanced far enough.
Garrett provides a longer-term project, yet his recent recovery from Tommy John surgery leaves uncertainty. With Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd headed toward free agency, the Cubs will need more reliable arms for 2027 and beyond.
The groundwork already exists for a potential reunion. The clubs completed a deadline swap involving Ryan Zeferjahn and Moises Ballesteros, creating familiarity that could ease future talks. Without the artificial pressure of a hard deadline, the asking price for Detmers is likely to drop.
The Angels, having advanced their own rebuild, may prove more open to a structured multi-player package. The Cubs still possess significant minor-league depth and big-league pieces such as Matt Shaw or Pedro Ramirez that could form the foundation of an offer.
Free-agent pitching remains expensive, making a trade involving a controllable arm particularly attractive. An impending lockout complicates the calendar, yet it should not deter the Cubs from exploring the possibility before negotiations freeze.
As O’Rourke noted, the opportunity to revisit Detmers in the offseason remains one of the more logical paths for Chicago to strengthen its rotation with a pitcher who fits both the present and the future.
