Cubs: 3 Pittsburgh Pirates players to trade for not named Andrew McCutchen
By Mark Powell
The Chicago Cubs could be buyers at this season’s MLB trade deadline, but could they swing a deal with the division rival Pittsburgh Pirates?
Whether officially or not, the Pittsburgh Pirates have made it clear that Andrew McCutchen is not for sale unless he makes it clear he’d prefer to play for a contender. When Cutch returned to Pittsburgh this past offseason — tribute video and all — he did not do so just to leave midseason. Ideally, he will finish his career in the Steel City, where he calls home in the offseason.
If the Bucs were to trade Cutch on his request, it would not be within the NL Central. Now, that would be silly. So, we can cross the Cubs off his list of potential suitors. Chicago, though, should be buyers at the trade deadline if they keep up this win pace. Tom Ricketts made that obvious just last week.
“Obviously we’re buyers right now,” Ricketts said, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. “Things can come off the rails, but I don’t think they will. I think what we have is a core that can compete for the division and compete for the playoffs and now it’s finding the missing parts to add to it.”
So, there you have it. The Bucs, if they’re willing to trade in-division, has some pieces Chicago could use.
Cubs players to target: Pirates pitcher Rich Hill
The Chicago Cubs could use some pitching help, especially in the back end of their starting rotation. Frankly, this is the case with most contenders in baseball. Pitching is always at a premium, especially around the trade deadline. Come September, the teams with the most rotation depth tend to fare the best, and Chicago hopes to be on the plus side of that category.
Hill has been through the ringer in his MLB career. He’s 43 years old, but was signed to a one-year deal for primarily this reason. Were the Bucs to falter in the first half of the season, Hill is the kind of pitcher who can bring back some decent prospect return, especially for a rental.
Hill has a 4.34 ERA and 1.373 WHIP. He’s stable, and come the postseason should be able to serve as a long reliever if Chicago is lucky enough to make it that far with the red-hot Reds in front of them. Pull the trigger.