Cubs Target Multiple Pitchers Including Ray, Holmes, Hancock and Mize Before Trade Deadline
Chicago is exploring several options to add up to three pitchers—potentially a starter and relievers—before the trade deadline, with interest in both free agents and players under contract.
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly aiming to acquire three pitchers before the upcoming trade deadline, according to sources at The Athletic and USA Today. The potential additions could be a combination of starters and relievers, depending on availability.
The club’s list of targets includes free agents Robbie Ray, Clay Holmes and Casey Mize, as well as Seattle’s Emerson Hancock, who remains under team control through 2030. Hancock, a former sixth overall pick, posted a 3.26 ERA over 20 starts this season, but his contract situation suggests he would require the most substantial return in any trade.
Ray, a former Cy Young Award winner, carries a salary of just under $8 million for the 2026 season, and the San Francisco Giants have indicated they may share part of that cost to facilitate a deal. Holmes, currently on a 60-day injured list after a fractured fibula, has begun minor-league rehab appearances, though his return to the New York Mets roster before the deadline appears unlikely.
The Cubs are also monitoring the market for relievers, with a particular interest in a right-handed pitcher who can generate strikeouts. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma noted that Chicago would “love to acquire” San Diego’s Adrian Morejon if the Padres decide to move him.
Financially, the Cubs’ projected payroll of roughly $252.3 million places them above the primary luxury-tax threshold but below the secondary limit that has historically guided the team’s spending.
"We would love to acquire Adrian Morejon if the Padres decide to sell at the deadline," wrote Sahadev Sharma.
The organization’s focus on pitching follows a season marked by numerous injuries to its staff, prompting a broader search that spans both established starters and potential rental pieces.