New Cubs Rumors Reveal Top Trade Chip amid Search for 'Front-Line Starter' Ahead of MLB Deadline

The Chicago Cubs have been decimated by injuries to their pitching staff, and they are reportedly interested in adding a "front-line starter" ahead of this year's trade deadline as a result.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported as much Sunday and noted the National League Central club "may have no choice but to move infielder Matt Shaw" in such a deal.

Shaw was the team's top-ranked prospect by MLB.com last year and has proven valuable to this year's Cubs because of his versatility that allows him to play a number of different positions. In fact, he has already played second base, third base, first base, left field, center field and right field in the early going this season.

However, he is primarily an infielder, which could make him somewhat expendable since the Cubs have Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner locked in at third base and second base, respectively.

Chicago will also have to give up something of value to get something of value in return, and nothing would be more valuable for the team as currently constructed than adding a "front-line starter" given its injury woes.

Cade Horton was supposed to be the team's ace this season but made just two appearances before he was lost for the rest of the campaign to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. That alone would be difficult to deal with, but 2023 All-Star Justin Steele was limited to just four starts last season due to his own Tommy John surgery and suffered a setback this season.

He took to social media on April 29 and revealed he suffered a "frustrating" setback in his rehab, which means it remains unclear when he will return to the rotation.

What's more, 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd is on the injured list after suffering a knee injury while playing with his children. That setback came after he previously missed time this year with a biceps injury.

It wasn't difficult entering the season to assume that Horton, Steele and Boyd would be the team's top three starters by the stretch run and playoff push.

The injuries have left a rotation of Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea and Ben Brown, which is not exactly loaded with star power. Rea and Brown had to be moved from a bullpen that has also suffered plenty of injuries just to cover the holes in the rotation.

Despite all of that, the Cubs are still in first place in the NL Central.

But they may need to make a major trade to maintain that position.