3 cheap trades Cubs can make to win the deadline

1. Tyler Anderson would give the Cubs the left-handed option they currently do not have

It’s rare to see teams within the same decision make a deal, but it’s possible the Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates could work something out for a trade including Tyler Anderson.

Anderson, 31, would give the Cubs a left-handed option which they do not have in their current rotation. Whether or not he can provide consistent productivity remains to be seen.

In 15 starts, Anderson owns a 4.75 ERA, 1.230 WHIP and a 4.52 FIP over 85.1 innings pitched. He’s also held left-handed hitters to a .163 batting average and .418 OPS, compared to allowing a .288 BA and .863 OPS to righties this season.

Similar to Kelly, it’d be a low-risk, high-reward type of move for the Cubs, who appear closer to heading in that direction rather than rolling the dice for a better option on paper. It’s been a tale of two first halves for Anderson thus far.

Anderson posted a 3.05 ERA through his first seven starts and a 6.34 ERA in his last eight outings. Some of those might be skewed due to an inflated earned run average in a handful of games, because overall Anderson has delivered three runs or less in 12 of his 15 starts this season. His issue is pitching deep into games as he’s managed to record an out passed the sixth inning just three times in 2021.

Maybe he can help this Cubs’ rotation a bit, but they’ll still need more to become a legitimate threat in the National League.