The Chicago Cubs find themselves at a crossroads. With a top-heavy starting rotation and injuries mounting, the team is in urgent need of reinforcements if it hopes to stay competitive in the tightly contested NL Central and make a legitimate postseason run. Shota Imanaga has been outstanding for most of the year, aside from a recent hiccup, while veteran Matthew Boyd continues to deliver steady performances.
Cubs Targeting Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly to Fortify Starting Rotation: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Chicago Cubs find themselves at a crossroads. With a top-heavy starting rotation and injuries mounting, the team is in urgent need of reinforcements if it hopes to stay competitive in the tightly contested NL Central and make a legitimate postseason run.
Shota Imanaga has been outstanding for most of the year, aside from a recent hiccup, while veteran Matthew Boyd continues to deliver steady performances. Beyond them, however, the Cubs are facing real problems. Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon are currently sidelined, rookie Cade Horton has struggled outside of Wrigley Field, and Colin Rea remains inconsistent from start to start.
Recognizing the need to stabilize the rotation, Chicago's president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, is reportedly being aggressive at the trade deadline. The Cubs were previously in discussions with the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Seth Lugo, but those talks fell apart when Lugo signed a two-year, $46 million extension to remain in Kansas City.
Now, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Cubs are shifting their focus westward to Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. Nightengale adds that teams view Kelly as Arizona’s best pitcher, ahead of Zac Gallen, who the Cubs also have interest in.
Unlike Gallen, Kelly is a low-risk acquisition for Chicago. The 35-year-old has appeared in 22 games this season and totaled a 3.22 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and a 1.057 WHIP across 128.2 innings. While he may not possess the Cy Young potential of Gallen, Kelly has been the more consistent pitcher this season, and as an impending free agent, should not cost as much to acquire.
Kelly feels like the kind of pitcher you add alongside a bigger acquisition. If Chicago can land a frontline starter and pair him with Kelly, the Cubs could instantly transform their rotation into one of the best in baseball.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
