Cubs Blockbuster? Why Latest $58 Million Trade Rumors Make Perfect Sense

By

Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing z.pressnell@newsweek.com.

Zach Pressnell

Contributing Sports Writer

🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.

The Chicago Cubs have seemingly gone all-in to win this year. They started by bringing in Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster deal during the offseason. Chicago has made a handful of other moves to back up the Tucker trade, too.

But the Cubs need to make a few more moves this month. They need to upgrade their bullpen in a big way, especially with multiple arms struggling in high-leverage situations.

Rich Eberwein of Cubbies Crib recently suggested the Cubs could poach Raisel Iglesias from the Atlanta Braves if the Braves opt to sell in the coming weeks.

“The 35-year-old is better than 95 percent of the league in terms of hard hit percentage allowed, and he is still generating a lot of swing-and-miss and strikeouts (27.3 percent) while walking batters at just a 5.2 percent clip,” Eberwein wrote. “Putting Iglesias in the same bullpen with Brad Keller and Daniel Palencia would give the Cubs three solid options for high-leverage spots late in ballgames, and Iglesias can easily handle the ninth inning when Palencia is unavailable.

“In addition to his regular season success (career 2.95 ERA and 235 saves), Iglesias is very durable and has rarely been hurt throughout his career. Adding him would be a game-changer for the Cubs, and he has had his best stuff in recent weeks, with only three earned runs allowed in his last 15 appearances.”

Iglesias would be the perfect buy-low target for the Cubs. He’s struggling a bit this season, though he’s turned his year around as of late.

The Braves will almost certainly look to trade him as his contract expires at the end of the season. With Atlanta seemingly out of the postseason race, it’s likely going to trade as many expiring contracts as possible.

The Cubs can afford to cut ties with a few talented prospects to bring in another high-leverage reliever for the backend of the bullpen.

More MLB: Mariners Linked To Massive Trade For Diamondbacks’ $10.9 Million Slugger