The Diamondbacks have been a feisty opponent for the Cubs the past few years as both clubs have battled in the Wild Card standings since 2023. However, a serious injury to the Diamondbacks pitching staff could end up handing the Cubs two trade candidates to help bolster their rotation and take them to a higher level in 2025.
Former Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes surprised the baseball world this past offseason, when he signed a $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks. It was a big statement for the NL West squad, who wasn't going to back down from tough competition in their division. Burnes has been fantastic in 2025, posting a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts.
However, the 2025 season has not gone to plan for the Diamondbacks. While Burnes has lived up to his talent the Diamondbacks rank near the bottom of MLB in team ERA, the bullpen has been especially poor, ranked second to last in the NL in bullpen ERA. Despite having a top-five offense in baseball the Diamondbacks have a 29-31 record, 7.5 games back from first place in the NL West and four games back of the final Wild Card spot.
Arizona's chances of turning their season around has taken a huge hit in recent days as Burnes exited early from his start against the Nationals on Sunday. A few days later the right-hander was placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
There was also the dreaded update that Burnes is seeking a second opinion on his pitching elbow.
Via MLB.com.
“[The MRI] is still being read by several doctors,” Lovullo said. “I know he’s on his way to meeting with more doctors in person. That will happen on Thursday in L.A. I did speak to Corbin [on Tuesday]. He seems to be in really good spirits. He’s got an army of people that love him and care for him. We’re just trying to figure out the best game plan. Nothing has been determined at this point.”
Burnes will be getting a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
The Diamondbacks are expected to have left-handed starter Eduardo Rodríguez return to the rotation soon. He's been out since May 15, with shoulder inflammation.
Considering where the Diamondbacks are in the standings and potential loss of Burnes for an extended period of time it's easy to speculate that they'll eventually become sellers at the deadline. Even before Burnes was officially sidelined ESPN's Jesse Rogers was already floating two trade targets from the Diamondbacks that could fit in with the Cubs this year.
Via ESPN 1000.
I think, I truly think, there’s going to be a new player in the seller’s market, one I would have never predicted, and that is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
They have a horrendous bullpen. Corbin Burnes might be out (for a long time with his elbow injury), that team is already ten out of first; they’re well out of the Wild Card race and going backwards. Think about this, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are free agents both at the end of this year. How would one of those guys look in a Cubs uniform?
So this is a huge developing story in my mind when it comes to the trade deadline…. I think Gallen and Kelly are both gonna be on the market.
We know the Cubs are going to add pitching at the trade deadline, so it makes sense why Rogers is speculating that Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly could both be of interest to the Cubs at some point this summer.
Both right-handed starters are free agents following the 2025 season and neither carry large salaries. In case you were wondering the Cubs have a current CBT payroll of $213 million according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. That figure is $28 million below the first luxury tax tier, so there really shouldn't be many constraints for the front office in the trade market to take on salary even if ownership wants to remain below the first tier.
Kelly, 36, is set to earn $8.5 million this year. He's made 12 starts so far in 2025, and has pitched well, posting a 3.78 ERA in 69 innings. He's really only had one awful start, allowing nine earned runs to the Yankees on April 3. In his other 11 starts Kelly has a 2.76 ERA.
Kelly has pitched his entire career with the Diamondbacks, making his MLB debut back in 2019. He has been fairly durable, making 27+ starts in four full seasons from 2019-23. However, Kelly did miss time in 2020 with a shoulder issue and in 2024, he was limited to 13 starts after the pitcher suffered a teres major muscle strain in his right shoulder early in the year.
The veteran has a career 3.82 ERA in 152 MLB starts.
Meanwhile, Gallen is hoping to cash in on a big free agent contract following the 2025 season, but he'll have to pick it up if he wants to secure one of those monster deals. The 29-year-old will earn $13.5 million this year. Gallen has a great track record, entering 2025 with a 3.34 ERA from 2020-24. That ranked sixth-best among all starting pitchers with at least 700 innings pitched during those five seasons.
So far in 2025, Gallen hasn't pitched to the back of his baseball card, recording a 5.13 ERA in 73.2 innings. However, Gallen did have one of his best starts of the season Tuesday night, going seven innings and allowing one earned run against the Braves.
Even in a year where Gallen has put up subpar numbers he's still had amazing performances. Back-to-back starts in early May, when he gave up a total of two runs in 13 innings combined to the Mets. But maybe none was better than Gallen's 13-strikeout game against the Yankees on April 2.
The track record speaks for itself. Gallen may not have good overall numbers now, but he's more likely than not going to turn it around in 2025.
The bigger point here is that the more unexpected teams that do become sellers at the trade deadline, the better chance there is of the Cubs acquiring a difference-maker for their pitching staff. So, while you're scoreboard watching you might want to also check out how the Diamondbacks are doing. If they don't gain much ground during the next month to six weeks, then they will probably look to sell in July.
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