The 2025 postseason is still far away, but the way the Chicago Cubs have been playing this season, skipper Craig Counsell’s team is easily one of the top contenders for the Fall Classic. With a 49-35 run, the Cubs stand as the 3rd best team in the NL, only behind the Dodgers [53-32] and Phillies [50-35]. And it’s the offense that is doing the magic for Chicago. As of now, Counsel’s team ranks second in the league, with 453 runs scored from the plate. However, the same can not be said about their defense.

The Cubs’ pitching remains a major concern. More precisely, the starting rotation. Their current starting rotation consists of five starters.

• Mathew Boyd: Having his career-best season with a 2.65 ERA and seven wins from the mound, still yet to pitch in 100 innings in a season since 2019
• Shota Imanaga: Yet to peak this season due to injury, but still the most reliable pitching asset for skipper Craig Counsell
• Jameson Taillon: Still inconsistent with 22 home runs already allowed this season
• Colin Rea: With a 4.37 ERA and five wins from the mound, he still needs to be refined
• And rookie Cade Horton: Too young to be a starter

Well, this rotation doesn’t give the Cubs much reason to feel confident about the October glory. So what should be the next move? MLB insider Jon Heyman weighed in on this recently.

As for the trade market for starting pitchers this season, there’s “no savior,” per Heyman. He advised the Cubs to keep an eye on Mitch Keller or Adrian Houser instead of Sandy Alcantara. You see, Alcantara, who’s also a top candidate for the Dodgers, has a 6.98 ERA. In fact, the drop in his command with 63 strikeouts and 34 walks cannot be ignored. Heyman reckons Mitch Keller and Adrian Houser are better alternatives.

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Sure, Keller had a shaky 2-10 record previously; however, that reflected the Pirates’ shortcomings more than his own. Now, he’s right on pace for a solid season with a 3.90 ERA and 77 strikeouts across around 100 innings.

Moreover, Alcantara also has a concerning injury history. Given the fact that the Cubs aren’t just envisioning making the postseason, they want to build themselves for it, the smarter move would be to target a stable arm like that of Keller.

If the Cubs want Mitch Keller, will the Pirates be open to trading him?

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold a disappointing 35-50 record and are clearly out of the wild card picture. This trade deadline, they seem open to dealing most of their players. Throughout this season, Paul Skenes was one of those that surfaced across all the trade rumors.

Another such name is Mitch Keller. The right-hander has a proven record as a starting pitcher who could really be available at this trade market. As per Bob Nightengale from USA Today, the Cubs and the Pirates have been discussing this potential deal for a week.

Now, that doesn’t say that this trade will certainly materialize. However, it does reflect that the Pirates are considering trading a phenom like him.

Across the upcoming three seasons, Keller is owed $54.5 million. That does seem like a bargain for a mid-rotation starting pitcher like him. However, the Pirates have an impressive pitching depth. With elite pitchers like Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, and Jared Jones already in their arsenal, trading Mitch Keller might just be a fair idea.

The team could send him off and could use his salary to acquire someone who offers offensive stability that the Pirates require at this moment. And if the Cubs are willing, then it’s highly likely that a deal could materialize. What do you think?