Cubs All-Star could help fans forget all about Marcus Stroman

Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele could soften the blow of potentially losing Marcus Stroman at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. 

The Chicago Cubs are 42-47, which places them third in the NL Central and seven games back of first-place Cincinnati. While it’s too early to write off a miraculous second-half turnaround, the Cubs are on the fast track to disappointment.

Like any team below .500 that’s stuck between an expensive payroll and the evident need to retool, the Cubs will face pivotal decisions ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. A primary subject of trade rumors has been starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract with a player option this offseason.

Stroman has been a borderline Cy Young candidate for the Cubs, posting an ERA of 2.96 with 98 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. He’s the head of the snake for Chicago’s pitching staff and one of the hottest arms in the sport. With their season approaching futility and Stroman expected to enter free agency in the winter, Chicago would be wise to consider trading him for guaranteed value.

The lack of extension talks has only increased the noise around Stroman’s potential departure. As Chicago fans fret over the future of their best pitcher, however, there’s a homegrown star ready to carry the franchise forward — with or without Stroman on the mound.

Chicago Cubs All-Star Justin Steele could help fans forget about Marcus Stroman

Justin Steele has been a pleasant surprise for Chicago. In just his third season with the franchise, the 28-year-old from Agricola, MS is about to make his All-Star debut — on his birthday, no less.

Steele’s road has been long and winding. He spent many years in the minors, battling Tommy John surgery and slowly but surely polishing his repertoire. As a kid, the former No. 139 pick used to bail hay and fish the ponds (subscription required) around his farm. Now he’s on the biggest stage in baseball.

“[The Cubs] took a chance on me,” Steele told Patrick Mooney of the Athletic. “They were patient with me. They gave me every opportunity that I needed, and I’m finally figuring stuff out.”

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Steele is a true homegrown star for Chicago. He spent seven years in the minors and took the long way around to achieve stardom. But here he is now, slicing through MLB batters with a league-best 172 ERA+ and 81 strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched. His 9-2 record on the mound has been a true bright spot for the otherwise middling Cubs.

The base salary for Steele’s contract this season? Only $740,000. With years of arbitration on the horizon, one has to imagine the Cubs will be eager to keep Steele onboard — whether Stroman ends up staying or going.

Chicago has purposefully made life difficult when it comes to keeping Stroman. He’s going to get paid next summer. At 32 years old, Stroman might not be the ideal candidate for long-term investment from a sub-.500 team. Steele is four years younger and way cheaper at the moment. He’s on track to become the new face of Chicago’s pitching rotation sooner than later.