As Cubs Explore Range of Possible Pitching Options, Reports of Trade Talks with Braves Emerge

shelby miller bravesMy fingers are burning today. Glad I got back from vacation.

It should go as no surprise that the Chicago Cubs are exploring multiple angles for picking up starting pitching this offseason. The free agent market is exceptionally robust. The Cubs’ tradable assets are similarly robust. The Cubs could go big and try to lock down a guy like David Price (he’s rumored to want to come to Chicago). Or they could go after another stud like Zack Greinke. Or they could explore the next tier, like the guy they’ve reportedly recently met with in Jeff Samardzija.

Or, of course, they could go after available, controllable younger starters in trade. (Indeed, they could do that in addition to exploring free agency. Why wouldn’t they?)

To that point, the teams we most frequently hear associated with the Cubs are the Indians, Padres, and Mets, all of which have positional needs to one extent or another, and all of which have intriguing young arms they could deal.

We’ve also heard a bit – dating back to to the Trade Deadline, anyway – about the Braves.

Given the team’s midseason sell-off and increasing efforts to turn big league players into minor league talent, you’ve got to figure that the Cubs would come calling to see if there’s a match involving guys like Julio Teheran or Shelby Miller. The latter, by the way, recently popped up in rumors involving the Diamondbacks – also a team with young positional talent to deal, and also looking for pitching – and now he’s popping up in connection to the Cubs:

The article referenced by Rosenthal is an interesting one from Jon Morosi, who also gets into the breadth of the Cubs’ pitching search. Not only are they considering free agent options, but Morosi reports that they’re “in the midst of active trade talks with multiple clubs” (as you’d expect).

We’ve explored some of the other tradable pitchers before, but not yet Miller, who came to the Braves by way of the Cardinals at this time last year in a trade for Jason Heyward. It was seen as a nice buy-low moment for the Braves, who gave up a year of Heyward (and Jordan Walden) for several years of Miller (and Tyrell Jenkins), who was coming off a down year.

[adinserter block=”1″]The Braves were right, as the 25-year-old Miller looked fantastic, posting a 3.02 ERA over 205.1 innings. His FIP was solid, at 3.45, and he netted 3.4 WAR.

Miller is under control for three more years, and projects to make $4.9 million in his first go-around in arbitration (MLBTR). He would look mighty nice in the Cubs’ rotation. The valuation question is tricky, given the breakout in 2015 and the potential for quickly escalating arbitration costs. The Braves would undoubtedly seek a haul (and reportedly have done so), and Miller certainly does merit a considerable return.

On the balance, I might find the value proposition in a deal for Teheran a little more interesting (he’s controlled for longer, has as much upside, and probably would cost a little less, coming off a down year), but, either way, this is something to follow.

I mentioned earlier today with respect to the Jeff Samardzija rumors that it might serve the Cubs best, overall, if they were able to pick up a young starter in trade, sign a guy like Samardzija, and then still have money leftover to use in center field or on a guy like Alex Gordon or Ben Zobrist and/or in the bullpen. It’s also true that, if the Cubs picked up a young starter in trade – be it an arm from the Braves or one of the Indians starters or Padres starters we’ve heard about – they’d have the funds to go after a top tier starter in free agency. I’ll let you dream about a rotation that includes Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, David Price or Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, and Kyle Hendricks or Jason Hammel. Just silly. But not impossible.

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

Latest News

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

Padres vs. Giants: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The San Francisco Giants (0-1), led by Jorge Soler, visit Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) at 9:40 PM ET on Friday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the...

How to Watch Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.The article below will give you everything you need to watch Los Angeles take on St. Louis.When...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Friday, the New York Yankees (1-0) play Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

Rays vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

At Tropicana Field on Friday, Aaron Civale versus Chris Bassitt will be the pitching matchup when the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) play the Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), starting at 6:50 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

more cubs news