The Cubs are still pushing for more starting pitching, even after adding young, promising arms like Eddie Butler and Alec Mills to the roster. But with reality setting in on Jake Arrieta potentially leaving Chicago after this season, the Cubs are keeping all options open to try and replace the 2015 Cy-Young winner.
Rumors swirled this offseason with the Cubs having interest in a wide variety of young, talented arms, like the Oakland's Sonny Gray or Tampa Bay's Chris Archer. The Cubs want to find younger arms to add to their team to build a potential core around Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester, and another talented arm to solidify their rotation for the next half decade.
However, with both the Rays and Athletics being small-market teams, it makes the move of one their talented arms extremely unlikely. But, there are new rumors involving another pitcher who has had prior connections to the Cubs and could possibly help soften the loss of Arrieta.
According to Marc Topkins of the Tampa Bay Times, starting pitcher Alex Cobb is a likely trade candidate and is expected to be moved sometime this season, and both the Dodgers and our hometown Cubs who have ties with the Rays starter.
This isn't the first time the Cubs have been linked to the righty Cobb, who had Tommy John surgery back in May of 2015 and only pitched 22 innings last season, but the two parties have rumored as potential fits. First, Cobb was mentioned in trade talks involving Cubs 2nd baseman Javier Baez, and then again this offseason as a consolation prize after the Cubs couldn't make a deal happen with Rays ace Chris Archer. Cobb put together a fantastic 2014 season, the last healthy season for the 29-year-old righty, posting a 2.87 ERA, a 8.06 K/9, and a 56% groundball rate. After talking to a few scouts, there doesn't seem to be a deal in place, but the Cubs have made it known that they have an interest in acquiring young, controllable pitching. However, the Cubs will most likely see how Cobb starts the 2017 season, being the first season he has come into 100% healthy, before making a move to acquire the oft-injured right handed pitcher. To make this deal come to life, the Cubs would most likely have to part with one of their top prospects, most likely one of outfielder Eloy Jimenez or infielder/outfielder Ian Happ paired with another mid-tier prospects, which makes this deal unlikely. But who knows, maybe Mike Montgomery struggles in his new role as a starter or Brett Anderson gets injured during the season, Alex Cobb could make sense for the Cubs in that sense and they maybe part with one of Jimenez or Happ. However, I was talking to a former scout who still has connections with the Cubs scouts, and he believes the Cubs could find a way to acquire the talented Rays starter while also keeping their top prospect.No surprise here, but the #Cubs are "interested" in #Rays SP Alex Cobb, according @TBTimes_Rays, who also said the #Dodgers were an option
— Sean Sears (@sean_sears6) March 19, 2017
Cobb is also a free agent after this season, which hurts the Rays chances of either the Cubs or Dodgers making a move this trade deadline season. But who knows, regardless the Cubs need to sure up their rotation with the potential of both Jake Arrieta and veteran John Lackey possibly pitching in their final season on the North-Side. While I see as pretty unlikely, Alex Cobb would look great in Cubs blue pinstripes, but a trade seems tough to manufacture without Chicago overpaying for Cobb. Overall, it seems unlikely, but the fit is hard to argueTalking to a former scout, he doesn't think the #Cubs would have to part with Jimenez to acquire Cobb. #Rays like Happ & Candelario too
— Sean Sears (@sean_sears6) March 19, 2017
