The Chicago Cubs might see an upgraded rotation by the trade deadline this year if speculation pans out. Following Marcus Stroman’s departure in free agency after the 2023 season, the team needed to fill the gap before the new season.

The front office managed to address this by signing Japanese standout Shota Imanaga to a favorable contract. He’s anticipated to join ace Justin Steele at the forefront of their pitching rotation, with Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks, and probably Javier Assad completing the rest of their lineup.

While this rotation appears solid on paper, many Cubs supporters would feel more assured with another enhancement. Kerry Miller from Bleacher Report believes this could happen before the trade deadline with the acquisition of former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.

Bieber, 28, has been among the league’s top starters since his initial All-Star selection in 2019. Despite a challenging 2023 season due to elbow inflammation, resulting in a stint on the 60-day injured list, he finished with a 3.80 ERA over 21 starts, boasting an ERA+ of 110 across 128 innings pitched.

Obtaining Bieber wouldn’t likely demand a significant haul from Chicago. Given that he’s in the final year of his contract before free agency, the Cubs might not need to part with much to bolster their pitching. Miller even suggests a potential one-for-one swap involving Tauchman or Cleveland adding another player to sweeten the deal. This scenario isn’t implausible.

If the Cubs find themselves in playoff contention this season, unlike previous years, the front office will probably seek roster upgrades. Securing a pitcher of Bieber’s caliber for someone like Mike Tauchman could be a significant coup for Chicago.