Report: Chicago Cubs interested in Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran
The Chicago Cubs pursuit of starting pitching has led them to Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves.
The Chicago Cubs are exploring different ways to upgrade their rotation in case they can’t sign free agent starting pitcher David Price. One of their fallback options is to trade with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have at least two starting pitchers that the Cubs are interested in because they are still under team control: Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran.
Adding to this from @jonmorosi - https://t.co/wO1kRTedlh - #Cubs also have talked to #Braves about controllable SPs (Miller, Teheran, etc.)
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 20, 2015
Per sources, #Cubs doing background work on a dozen or so starting pitchers. #Braves believed to want young position players for Miller.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 20, 2015
The Chicago Cubs are certainly doing their homework on starting pitchers to try to add the final piece to a starting rotation that already includes 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. Teheran and Miller are two intriguing arms that the Cubs are likely to pursue should they lose out in free agency. They could pursue them even if they add someone in free agency.
Atlanta needs impact bats and position players. The Cubs have a plethora of options for the Braves, should they be interested in moving Miller or Teheran. Starlin Castro has a ton of potential and he is under team control until at least 2020 with an option for 2021. He could play either shortstop or second base for the Braves. The Braves might also be interested in Jorge Soler, but the Cubs would likely want more than just Miller or Teheran for the young outfielder.
Teheran is coming off a rough 2015 season that saw him finish with a 4.04 ERA and a 4.40 FIP. He is under team control until at least 2019 with a 2020 option worth $12 million. The Cubs would acquire him hoping that he can get back to what he was in 2013 and 2014. He had control issues in 2015 with a career-high 3.27 walks per nine innings pitched in 200 2/3 innings.
Miller is coming off an impressive 2015 season. He finished with a 3.02 ERA and a 3.45 FIP despite losing 17 games for the struggling Braves. The Braves received Miller in the Jason Heyward trade. Miller is the safer bet of the two pitchers. However, Teheran could wind up being the best value for the Cubs if his 2015 season was just an anomaly.