The Chicago Cubs continue navigating a challenging season marked by persistent pitching injuries that have tested the depth of their rotation at nearly every turn.
Despite the ongoing health setbacks on the mound, the club remains firmly in the postseason conversation and is widely expected to operate as buyers before the August 3 trade deadline arrives.
Unlike several other contenders focused solely on short-term rentals, the Cubs appear more inclined to target a pitcher who brings multiple years of remaining control.
That preference has directed attention toward a left-hander currently pitching for the Los Angeles Angels in Reid Detmers.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers highlighted Detmers by name in a fresh examination published Monday of potential moves the Cubs could pursue in the coming days.
“The Cubs also have some expiring contracts on the mound, so trading for a controllable pitcher works for their future as well as their present,” Rogers wrote. “Los Angeles Angels starter Reid Detmers would fit that need. As usual, prices are currently high for those pitchers, according to league sources, but Chicago has some infield depth at the major and minor league level to trade from. That surplus is their strength, so don’t expect the Cubs to offload much, if any, from their major league team. They want what most teams want — a chance to take down the Dodgers this season and stay competitive for years to come.”
At present the Cubs can count on Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga as healthy members of the starting group.
Jameson Taillon recently made his return from the injured list and has rejoined the staff.
Meanwhile Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown and Justin Steele remain sidelined with various ailments that have kept them from contributing.
Even should one or two of those injured arms regain enough health to rejoin the rotation, questions linger about how effectively they might pitch so soon after returning from time on the shelf.
There is also no assurance the rest of the staff will avoid further health issues during the stretch run.
Against that backdrop Detmers stands out as a logical target for Chicago on several fronts. His remaining years of club control would address both the immediate need for rotation help and the longer-term desire to maintain competitive balance beyond this season.
The Cubs’ relative surplus of infield talent at both the big-league and minor-league levels provides a potential path to acquiring such an arm without dismantling the core of the current roster.
That approach aligns with a broader organizational goal of mounting a serious challenge against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026 while positioning the franchise for sustained contention in subsequent campaigns.
As the deadline draws closer, the high asking prices for controllable pitchers remain a significant hurdle according to league sources, yet the Cubs’ depth in certain areas could still facilitate a deal that strengthens their pitching staff for both the present and the future.
