"In his latest piece about the Pirates trading away Johan Oviedo, Ken Rosenthal reported that the Pirates are open to trading another starting pitcher not named Paul Skenes. So while it still feels like it's only a matter of time before that domino falls and Skenes gets shippied out of Pittsburgh, it isn't likely to happen this season. Despite having perhaps the best pitcher in baseball, the Pirates finished in last place in the NL Central with just 71 wins."
"Their lack of success mainly stemmed from a weak offense, one that scored an MLB-worst 583 runs. Their rotation was fantastic, with a 3.71 ERA that was sixth best in the sport, so they had several other strong starters. As those options become available on the trade market, it would be wise for the Cubs to consider an intradivision trade to bolster their own staff."
"The Cubs could use more velocity in the rotation, and the Pirates have plenty of it. As our Evan Altman mentioned on X, every presumed member of their rotation sits 95 mph or higher. That's a foreign concept for the Cubs, who currently have only one starter throwing above 94 mph. That wouldn't be helped by Mitch Keller, who seems like the pitcher the Pirates would be most motivated to move based on the three years and nearly $56 million remaining on his contract."
Pirates finished last in the NL Central with 71 wins despite having arguably the best pitcher in baseball. The lineup produced an MLB-worst 583 runs, while the rotation posted a 3.71 ERA, sixth-best in MLB. The team has multiple high-velocity starters who may be available in trades, though Paul Skenes is unlikely to be moved this season. Mitch Keller appears the most tradable given three years and nearly $56 million remaining on his contract. Braxton Ashcraft offers team control and high velocity, while Bubba Chandler remains largely untouchable unless teams pay a premium. The Cubs could pursue such intradivision targets to add power to their rotation.
Read at Cubsinsider
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