3 Early Cubs Trade Deadline Targets
The Chicago Cubs have begun the 2024 season well with a 21-14 record through five weeks of baseball. The Cubs' record currently has them tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the division. While this start to the season has been good for the Cubs, the team has struggled in some areas on the field.
Recently, the Cubs' hitters have been inconsistent, having one good game and then one bad game. The Cubs' plate struggles are due to the fact that they are missing two of their best hitters, Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger. Once those players return to the lineup the Cubs hitting should be back to normal.
The issue that has plagued the Cubs since the start of this season has been their bullpen. The Cubs bullpen has an accumulative ERA of 4.81 so far this season. The horrendous ERA for the Cubs bullpen does not only fall on the middle relievers but also on the closing pitcher Adbert Alzolay. Alzolay has blown five saves this season and has an ERA of 5.54. The Cubs clearly need to add some arms to their pen via trades if they want to make a playoff push. With that being said, here are three players the Cubs might be able to add at or before the trade deadline.
1. Logan Allen, RP- Arizona Diamondbacks
The 2023 World Series runner-up Arizona Diamondbacks have not started off the 2024 season too hot. Currently, they have a 15-20 record, which puts them in third place in the NL West. This rough start for the Diamondbacks is thanks to their starting rotation which only has one pitcher with an ERA below 3.00. If the Diamondbacks starting pitching can't figure out their issues soon, the team might be sellers at the trade deadline.
If the Diamondbacks decide their best option is to trade away players at the deadline, one player the Cubs should be interested in is relief pitcher Logan Allen. Allen has begun the season strong with a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings pitched with three walks and six strikeouts. This is the best Allen has looked in his career, so adding him to a struggling bullpen would definitely provide a spark.