The Chicago Cubs are reportedly deep in trade discussions, targeting top-tier pitchers to bolster their starting rotation for the upcoming season. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Cubs are in active trade talks for Cleveland Guardians’ Shane Bieber and Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Glasnow. This comes as the team looks to fill the gap left by Marcus Stroman in their rotation.
In addition to the Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds have also shown interest in both pitchers, particularly after Sonny Gray’s move to the St. Louis Cardinals. Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young award winner and Glasnow are both approaching free agency post-2024 season, making them valuable assets in the current pitching market.
Despite a season limited to 21 starts, Bieber maintained a record of 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA for the Guardians in 2023. He is expected to earn around $12.2 million in his final year before unrestricted free agency, as estimated by Spotrac.
Glasnow, on the other hand, will be 31 by the 2024 season and is slated to earn a significant $25 million in the upcoming season with the Rays. His impressive performance last season, with a 10-7 record and a 3.53 ERA, along with 162 strikeouts in 120 innings, has intensified trade speculations.
The anticipation for significant moves is high as baseball’s winter meetings approach, scheduled for next week in Nashville. The meetings are expected to be a hotbed of activity, given the dynamic free-agent market and various teams seeking to adjust their payrolls before the next season.