Starting pitcher Colin Rea, along with many of his Chicago Cubs teammates, states that he hasn’t given much thought to the looming MLB trade deadline. Rea mentioned his focus remains on the daily grind and trying to win each game, with no idle time to ponder the deadline.
Yet, Wrigley Field felt the weight of Monday’s deadline as the league witnessed several trades over the past day. The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a major acquisition, trading for Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal. The reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner will debut for the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Cubs.
Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong, commenting on the Skubal trade, expressed a neutral stance, noting the upcoming matchup as an opportunity to face a respected competitor. Despite the distractions, the Cubs focused on the game, evident from their recent activities.
On Sunday, the Cubs engaged in trade talks, sending right-hander Jameson Taillon to the Toronto Blue Jays. Taillon, having struggled with a 5.92 ERA and a high number of home runs allowed, was designated for assignment last week.
Cubs President Jed Hoyer is expected to strengthen the roster before the deadline, aiming to acquire more pitchers. Crow-Armstrong remains optimistic that any addition would bolster the team’s solid lineup and competitive spirit.
The Cubs’ pitchers have impressed, posting a 2.27 ERA in their recent stretch, the second-best in the majors. This comes despite having 13 pitchers on the injured list. With the arms race intensifying post-Dodgers’ acquisition, more additions are sought.
Cub’s manager Craig Counsell commented on the impactful nature of today’s trade deadline compared to earlier years, emphasizing the fixed nature of teams post-deadline with no further player additions.
Despite the solid pitching against the Yankees over the weekend, the Cubs’ offense struggled, securing just four hits and drawing multiple walks without capitalizing. Particularly disappointing was Nico Hoerner’s missed opportunity in the sixth inning, where he failed to capitalize on a 3-0 count.
Although Hoerner refrained from challenging a questionable call, Cubs manager emphasized the multifaceted challenge hitters face while at-bat. The error serves as a minor concern, with more focus directed towards future games and potential new additions from the deadline.
Rea, reflecting on Sunday, indicated the team’s mindset is on their next series against the Dodgers, leaving trade-related matters to the front office.
Andy Martinez reports for the Chicago Tribune.