The Cubs are 5-5 since May 27, though the team is currently tied for third place in the NL Central and 6.5 games back of the first-place Brewers. Since May 16, which marked the start of a 10-game losing streak, the Cubs pitching staff and roster have both struggled more than usual. Cubs starters are 2-12 in their last 20 games and have a 7.11 ERA that ranks last in the Majors. Meanwhile, hitters are hitting .223/.311/.360 with a 93 wRC+ in that span.
In light of those recent struggles, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was asked how the team is approaching the August 3 trade deadline. In response, Hoyer told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and others, “We will be looking at pitching at that time. [But] sitting here talking about the deadline, if we look at the way we played, it’s not worth talking about.” Hoyer also called the team’s caliber of players a key strength while repeating the trade deadline as “something that’s out of my mind.”
The comments about lifting are understandable, as almost every competitor is looking to add new arms in the allotted time. Barring a complete collapse, the Cubs can expect to be buyers this year. They are currently just behind the Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot and have a great schedule in June, with 14 games remaining against the Giants, Rockies, and Mets. FanGraphs gives Chicago a 47.0% chance of making the playoffs right now.
Still, it might be wise for the Cubs’ front office to show more urgency about making additions. The rotation has been difficult this year even more than the current slide. The team’s 4.81 ERA is tied with the Astros for second-worst in the Majors, with the Rockies’ starters doing the worst. While Cubs starters are average or better at getting strikeouts and limiting walks, they allow hard contact 37.0% of the time, which ranks third worst. They rank second worst (ahead of the Athletics) with 1.65 home runs allowed per nine innings.
It is difficult to see much improvement if the club simply stays the course with the options available. Shota Imanaga again Jameson Taillon they are the Cubs’ only qualified starters. Both have ERAs over 4.70 and opponents’ averages in balls in play in the .230 range, suggesting they were lucky to even achieve those results. Edward Cabrera he’s striking out 21.5% of hitters in career and allowing an average exit velocity of 91.6 MPH, which ranks in the top five percent in all of MLB. Ben Brown (1.2 fWAR) is the team’s most valuable starter, and has started six games since leaving the bullpen.
The issue is not helped by the Cubs’ injuries. Matthew Boyd he was worth 3.4 fWAR in 2025 and had five solid peripherals starting earlier this year. He missed last month with a left meniscus injury. Justin Steele he experienced complications from a revision UCL surgery and is not expected to return until the second half. Late Horton is out until mid-2027 after Tommy John surgery in April. Given those injuries and the performance of the existing starters, it would be good for the Cubs to be aggressive in adding starters on August 3rd, even if Hoyer is not committed yet.
Conversely, the case is more likely for employees to improve their recent performance. Even factoring in the slide, Cubs hitters are tied for sixth in the Majors with a 107 wRC+ this year. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Buschagain Seiya Suzuki all are at least 14% better than average in wRC+. Alex Bregman he won’t be a below-average hitter forever, either Nico Hoerner‘s 96 wRC+ is below average but not bad, especially considering his importance on defense.
Dansby Swanson he is the only Cubs hitter struggling overall. He’s hitting just .180/.285/.322 with a 75 wRC+ in 240 plate appearances this year. The 75 wRC+ is well below last year’s 99 and would be Swanson’s lowest in a full season since 2018. According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the manager. Craig Counsell plans to temporarily bench Swanson for a few games to help him regroup. Swanson, who entered as a ghost runner in the tenth inning yesterday, may still be available on the bench.
Swanson is known as a hitter, and that has been the case this year as well. He had an 86 wRC+ through May 15, but has posted a 45 wRC+ since May 16. Swanson has also been very unlucky. His .207 average on balls in play is well below the league average again due to regression. Swanson is hitting slower and moving more than last year, and his average exit velocity of 89.5 MPH is down from last year but similar to 2024, when it was close to league average. The team will hope that a few days off can bring Swanson back to his senses and help him get back to his work habits at the plate.
In smaller news, the Cubs signed OK Andrew Wantz to a minor league contract, according to his trade tracker on MLB.com. Wantz started the year with the Rays but only pitched 1 2/3 innings before being designated for assignment last week. His last major league hit came in 2023, when Wantz had a 3.89 ERA in 39 1/3 innings for the Angels. He is a deep signing and figures to be called up only if there is an injury or a temporary need for a new arm.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
