Chicago Cubs Rumors: Latest pair of trade targets prior to deadline

RHP Ryan Tepera, Toronto Blue Jays

One of the first pitchers the Cubs have been scouting recently, according to Levine, is Toronto Blue Jays righty Ryan Tepera. Tepera is 30 years old and has four years of experience in the Majors at this point in his career.

Over the course of 2018, Tepera has accumulated a respectable ERA of 3.71. In 43.2 innings pitched, he has given up a total of 41 hits, 18 earned runs and six home runs. With 48 strikeouts to just 14 walks, Tepera’s strike-to-walk ratio is pretty admirable.

Let’s look at his most recent production, because that is what will matter most when analyzing a potential deal, here.

In July, Tepera struggled a bit. For the entire month, his ERA was a whopping 10.38 — this coming after his best month on the season in June, where he posted a 2.19 ERA.

Tepera’s last two games have not been kind to him. He has pitched just 1.0 inning and given up a total of five runs on five hits, with zero strikeouts. Prior to those two appearances, Tepera had gone nine out of 10 games without giving up a run, while striking out 13.

Keep an eye out for Tepera’s name linked to the Cubs in the coming hours — he might just be on his way to Chicago.