The Chicago Cubs’ starting pitching woes are well-documented at this point.
Matthew Boyd’s All-Star season has been incredible to behold, and the return of a healthy Shota Imanaga should be a difference-maker. But those could be the only two current Cubs pitchers deserving of a playoff start.
With the Jul. 31 trade deadline looming, the Cubs will be under pressure to revamp the rotation. But how flashy do those reinforcements need to be?
One baseball writer foresees a reunion that might excite some nostalgic Cubs fans, but would also leave reason for concern about the team’s commitment to an all-in approach.
On Saturday, Zachary Howell of ClutchPoints made a prediction about which starting pitcher the Cubs would acquire: Kyle Hendricks, the 12-year veteran who spent 2014 through 2024 pitching for the Cubs, including the start in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
“Trading for Hendricks would reunite him with the team that he started his career with. He is one of the few players left from the team that won the World Series in 2016,” Howell wrote.
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“Hendricks’ return to Chicago would be a triumphant moment for the team. It could be the morale boost they need heading into the second half of the season. The Cubs are one or two pieces away from being the NL World Series favorite.”
Last year in Chicago, Hendricks was one of the least valuable pitchers in the National League with a 5.92 ERA and -1.5 bWAR. He’s only shaved a run off that ERA (4.68), but that’s flipped him to the positive side with 1.2 bWAR.
Not everyone should be as optimistic as Howell that this trade will happen. But could it? Sure, but the Cubs should acquire a second starting option to supplement Hendricks in that case.
More MLB: Cubs predicted to acquire $56 million ex-Cy Young winner at trade deadline
