Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer just dropped a bombshell trade idea for the Chicago Cubs, one that would bring two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom to the Windy City. This isn’t just a fantasy; it’s a real pitch to address a looming rotation crisis for the Cubs as they stare down the barrel of the 2027 season.
The Cubs Are Losing Pitching, Fast
The Cubs are looking at a serious exodus from their starting rotation. Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga, and David Peterson are all set to hit unrestricted free agency. On top of that, Clay Holmes has a $12 million player option he’s likely to decline, and Matthew Boyd has a $15 million mutual option. That’s a huge chunk of their pitching staff potentially gone, and it means they absolutely need to build a strong top five for 2027. This isn’t just about adding depth, it’s about finding an ace.
DeGrom to Chicago: The Trade Details and the Gamble
Rymer’s proposed trade has the Texas Rangers sending Jacob deGrom and a hefty chunk of cash to Chicago. We’re talking about $30 million of deGrom’s $37 million salary, basically buying out his negative surplus value. In return, the Rangers would get left-hander Justin Steele and catching prospect Owen Ayers. The rationale for the Cubs? They need an ace, and deGrom, despite being 38 years old and sporting a 4.20 ERA from this season, still maintained an elite 30.1 K%. Rymer argues that joining the Cubs would offer a boost deGrom can’t get anywhere else, thanks to MLB’s best defense. But is it a gamble? You bet it is. The big question for the Rangers would be whether Steele, who missed most of 2025 and all of 2026, has actually made a full recovery. He is expected to be fully healthy for spring training, and don’t forget, he finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting in 2023.
What’s at Stake for the Cubs’ Rotation
If this trade somehow went down, deGrom would immediately become the ace of Chicago’s staff. But let’s be real, even with a two-time Cy Young winner, one pitcher won’t fix everything. The Cubs’ rotation would absolutely need more than just deGrom to make it a successful offseason and really contend in 2027. This proposed deal is exciting, it’s risky, and it’s exactly the kind of move a team facing a pitching crisis might consider. The stakes are huge as the Cubs navigate free agency and potential trades to build a championship-caliber team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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