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The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball this season despite having a poor rotation due to injuries. While the Cubs’ lineup is apparently deep enough for the club to be ready to compete, one of Chicago’s hitters may need to be moved this summer to address the rotation.

USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday that with Chicago in the market for a front-line starting pitcher, the front office has “no choice” but to trade infielder Matt Shaw.

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Shaw, who is just 24 years old, is also not eligible for arbitration until 2029. He’s making just $804,500 this season and has made great strides. After posting a .226 batting average in his rookie season, Shaw has raised his average to .245 this year with an OPS near .700.

He has decreased his strikeout rate year-to-date (21.5% to 17.5%) and is showing good positional versatility. However, the Cubs’ roster is deep on the position-player side, with Moises Ballesteros, Michael Conforto, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Alex Bregman needing consistent at-bats.

RELATED: Insider names 3 Cubs trade targets

For Chicago, the depth of hitters gives the front office the flexibility to move Shaw. The Cubs may be at an advantage over other suitors because Shaw can contribute immediately at the major-league level, while prospects may never reach the big leagues.

The challenge may be finding the right business partner. The San Francisco Giants may have some starting pitching available (Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle), but they already have Matt Chapman at third base. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are loaded with young hitters in the corner infield.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Chicago Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball this season, entering MLB games today with 27 wins and several double-digit wins. This comes as the club’s pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, but that could change at the MLB trade deadline.

MLB insider Robert Murray named starting pitchers Robbie Ray (San Francisco Giants), Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins) and Freddy Peralta (New York Mets) among potential Cubs trade targets this summer.

Peralta surfaced in MLB trade rumors last week when Bruce Levin reported that the Cubs had talked to the Mets about a trade for the All-Star pitcher. Although that report has since been retracted, New York has given no indication it is willing to trade Peralta yet.

Chicago still desperately needs starting pitching. While Matthew Boyd (meniscus surgery) may only be sidelined for a month, Cade Horton had season-ending elbow surgery in April and fellow starter Justin Steele now faces an uncertain timeline for his return after recovering from elbow surgery.

Entering the game on May 12, the Cubs’ rotation ranked seventh in ERA (3.77), sixth in WHIP (1.17) and ninth in quality starts (15). However, since April 26, Chicago’s rotation ranks 16th in WHIP (1.26) and 12th in ERA (3.71), depth is becoming a bigger issue.

Evaluating the Cubs’ potential trade targets

Robbie Ray and Freddy Peralta appear to be the most realistic trade targets for Chicago. Both have expiring contracts, reducing the potential acquisition cost for either starter and increasing the likelihood that either San Francisco or New York is willing to make a move.

Ray, who is making $25 million this season, has outperformed Peralta this season. The 6-foot-2 southpaw has recorded a 2.76 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP in 45.2 innings, striking out 26.1 percent of the batters he faced for a .198 batting average.

Peralta, who is owed just $8 million this season, hasn’t been as effective in his first season with New York. While he has a solid 3.12 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP in 43.1 innings, it comes with a career-low 23.2 percent strikeout rate.

Given the Cubs’ infield arrangement, Peralta may be a better option. The 29-year-old righty ranks 36th among starting pitchers in groundball rate (43.7 percent), while Ray is 74th (27.4 percent).

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Pete Crowe-Armstrong will give Los Angeles Dodgers fans reason to make him Public Enemy No. 1 when the Chicago Cubs visit LaLa Land in April.

In his second full season in the big leagues, the man nicknamed PCA took Chicago sports by storm. After an up-and-down 2024, the former New York Mets prospect took a big step forward last season. Posting 31 homers, 95 runs batted-in, 91 runs batted in, and 35 stolen bases. Additionally, his slugging and OPS were up nearly .100 points from the previous season.

The outfielder walked away with a lot of upside from a prospect that the organization was still developing for a starting MVP candidate in 2025. The 23-year-old has become the new face of the franchise, and unsurprisingly, he has been a top focus of the Chicago media in Spring Training. Along with this also comes a lot of interviews ahead of the new season.

In a new conversation with Chicago Magazine, PCA talked about his love for Chicago and its sports fans. While doing so, he took an interesting shot at one of his home-state teams. The current big evil of MLB, the LA Dodgers.

Pete Crowe-Armstrong claims LA Dodgers fans come to games only to take photos

“I love Chicago,” Crowe-Armstrong said. “It’s an incredible city. The people are great. They give a shit. They’re not just baseball fans who go to the games to take pictures and do whatever, like Dodgers fans. They’re paying attention. They care.”

This comment would further endear him to Cubs fans, and his honesty is part of his unique charm. However, baseball fans in LA will definitely be tuning in for a three-game set when Chicago visits Chavez Ravine in late April.

Although the comments will be stinging, they will not necessarily be baseless. While Los Angeles has millions of dedicated sports fans, the group has always had a reputation for coming to games late and having a very casual attitude about loving their teams.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos