Breaking News: Cubs Eye $73 Million Ace After Missing Out on…
The Chicago Cubs have been actively seeking a starting pitcher this offseason, and one name that had been heavily linked to them was left-hander Jesús Luzardo of the Miami Marlins. However, on Sunday morning, the Philadelphia Phillies made a significant move, trading several top prospects to acquire Luzardo from the Marlins. With Luzardo now off the table, the Cubs will need to explore alternative options for bolstering their pitching rotation.
In light of this development, Mark Powell of FanSided recently proposed an exciting alternative: the Cubs could pursue a high-profile trade for Minnesota Twins ace, Pablo López. Powell suggests that the Cubs could offer their No. 6 prospect, Kevin Alcántara, along with their No. 9 prospect, Jaxon Wiggins, in exchange for López, who is valued at $73 million. Powell noted that López would be an excellent addition to the Cubs’ rotation without the need to completely deplete their farm system. He also highlighted that López has consistently been a solid contributor, finishing with over 2.5 WAR in each of the last four seasons. In 2023, he earned a spot on the American League All-Star Team and finished seventh in the AL Cy Young voting, cementing his status as one of the top pitchers in the league.
López, while not as inexpensive as Luzardo, is still a highly capable starter with a relatively manageable contract, set to earn just over $21 million annually for the next three years. This makes him a viable option for the Cubs, especially since he is under contract through the 2027 season. Although López’s 2024 season was marked by a 4.08 ERA, he had four consecutive years with sub-4.00 ERAs from 2020 to 2023, demonstrating his consistency and effectiveness on the mound.
While adding López would undoubtedly strengthen the Cubs’ starting rotation, there is still uncertainty surrounding whether the Twins will actually move him, making this trade proposal a bit speculative at this stage. Nonetheless, López is considered one of the most attractive trade targets this winter, and the Cubs could certainly benefit from his addition if the deal comes to fruition.