White Sox Could Send Starter To Cubs As Trade Talks Heat Up

With the MLB Trade Deadline approaching, the White Sox are expected to be active and listen to offers on almost everyone on the roster. One of the best players available on the roster is starting pitcher Adrian Houser, who has drawn plenty of trade interest.

A new team is kicking the tires on Houser, as according to Patrick Mooney, the Chicago Cubs are interested in acquiring Houser from the White Sox.

Add Adrian Houser’s name to Cubs’ long list for the trade deadline.https://t.co/7eDf2SMhLJ

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 26, 2025

This is very interesting, as Houser just had a fantastic start against the Cubs just a few days ago. Houser threw 6.2 innings of three run ball, striking out three while just giving up five hits to the Cubs dangerous lineup.

Houser was on cruise control until the 7th inning where he ended up giving up a three run homer to Reese McGuire. However, the White Sox had a significant lead at that point, so it was not the end of the world.

Since Houser is a free agent at the end of the season, he may not be as expensive as some of the other pitchers the Cubs are looking at. A player or two off their top-30 prospect list could get the deal done, which in turn would stabilize the back end of the Cubs rotation.

The White Sox could be interested in the plethora of position player prospects in the Cubs farm system, as they have 22 position players in their top-30, per MLB Pipeline.

The price for Houser will depend on the amount of teams interested in him, as if a bidding war ensues, the Cubs may have to cough up a better prospect. I can't imagine they would give up a top-10 prospect in their system, but I could see a scenario where they give up a prospect in the top 15-20 range.

25 year-old outfielder Christian Franklin is in that range, as he is hitting .268 with a .397 OBP with the Iowa Cubs. In 85 games, Franklin has added eight homeruns, 41 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. This could be a nice swap for both teams, as Franklin is currently blocked by a stacked outfield in Chicago.

The Cubs also have a few low level prospects in that range that could turn out to be better than their rankings, as they are still in rookie ball, giving the White Sox a chance at what could be a very good player. However, they may have to wait 4-5 years for them to develop, as they are still 17 or 18.

The White Sox will have some decisions to make, but the needs of both teams line up very well in a trade. Don't be surprised if Houser gets sent over to the Cubs for a decent return.