{"id":131547,"date":"2025-08-09T11:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/131547\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T11:03:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:03:13","slug":"mlb-2025-do-cubs-have-a-world-series-level-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/131547\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB 2025: Do Cubs have a World Series-level roster?"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"authors\">\n<li class=\"mugshot-shown\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754737392_987_rogers_jesse.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\"\/>\n<p>Jesse RogersAug 8, 2025, 07:00 AM ET<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>CHICAGO &#8212; There was plenty of buzz about the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"5cda5067-7075-66b1-4b94-2333ab8d9807\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/chc\/chicago-cubs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chicago Cubs<\/a> potentially making big moves at the MLB trade deadline, but the team ultimately opted for midtier improvements instead of a splashy addition.<\/p>\n<p>That wasn&#8217;t the case for some of Chicago&#8217;s top National League competitors. The <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"ff1e263a-f6a6-93c3-1373-418623652ff0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/phi\/philadelphia-phillies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"d08426cc-bf13-5d7b-5217-6d4662019bc6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/nym\/new-york-mets\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New York Mets<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4dec648c-3eb9-055c-aebc-2711f30975a0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/sd\/san-diego-padres\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Diego Padres<\/a> all landed high-end closers while the Cubs traded for relievers <a data-player-guid=\"88a5e412-a236-3120-2e1c-0d59fa815f22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33671\/taylor-rogers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Taylor Rogers<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"4b73909a-2b0d-119d-ef3c-86c88700ba86\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35872\/andrew-kittredge\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew Kittredge<\/a> along with starter Mike Soroka &#8212; who is on the IL after leaving his first start in Chicago because of shoulder discomfort &#8212; along with utility man <a data-player-guid=\"4fe68af2-4aff-4439-602a-221472bf65f1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34230\/willi-castro\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Willi Castro<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hard when you see other teams you&#8217;re competing with get really good players, but those aren&#8217;t decisions you&#8217;re making in the moment,&#8221; GM Carter Hawkins told ESPN. &#8220;Their decisions you&#8217;re making over the course of the week and month. It takes some discipline, especially in a moment when you see things moving that way, but we were able to stick to our approach and felt really good about the adds we were able to make.<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/p>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Teams are trying to find that guy that can lock down the eighth or ninth inning but that also costs a lot. That costs a lot of future wins. We have a responsibility to the 2025 Cubs but also the 2032 Cubs. That&#8217;s not always popular in the moment, but it&#8217;s decisions we have to make.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So where do those trade deadline decisions leave the Cubs entering the stretch run? Is their current roster enough to keep up with the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4750d73d-d92e-b390-758c-2c7b44a810db\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/mil\/milwaukee-brewers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> in the NL Central race? And do they have a championship-level team that can compete in a loaded NL come October?<\/p>\n<p>We asked a panel of three MLB insiders &#8212; a coach, an executive and a scout &#8212; to assess Chicago&#8217;s post-trade deadline roster.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Starting pitching<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cubs rank 14th in starters ERA and how far they would go to improve the rotation was the biggest question surrounding the team ahead of the deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Chicago has endured several key injuries to the rotation, including losing <a data-player-guid=\"3e57eb1b-fa85-6d99-1bae-704764ee9d9f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/41022\/justin-steele\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Justin Steele<\/a> (elbow) for the season, <a data-player-guid=\"af1ec5d4-41a0-3097-9cb4-9e32ec6250a2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5134630\/shota-imanaga\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shota Imanaga<\/a> (hamstring) for over a month and Jameson Taillon (calf), who is due back this month. Right-hander <a data-player-guid=\"2041a02c-f442-32f2-9113-46727181011a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/5002950\/javier-assad\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Javier Assad<\/a> is also expected back soon but hasn&#8217;t pitched all season because of an oblique issue.<\/p>\n<p>After coming from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a73e1046-e9aa-ef6b-4e0d-2a7c808cb284\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/wsh\/washington-nationals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Nationals<\/a> at the deadline, Soroka&#8217;s debut for the Cubs lasted only two innings and now the team is left waiting to see when he returns. Even when Soroka does come back, he is more of a back-end option or postseason swingman than October starter.<\/p>\n<p>Post-MLB trade deadline guide<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/r1527818_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>How playoff hopes have risen or fallen &#8212; and what comes next &#8212; for all 30 teams. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/45898881\/2025-mlb-trade-deadline-stock-watch-guide-all-30-teams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bradford Doolittle \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When you hear what the starter&#8217;s prices were and that Miami was making a run, it all factors into it,&#8221; Cubs left fielder <a data-player-guid=\"2db89dcd-a767-f856-baad-c7522b5dc24b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34945\/ian-happ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ian Happ<\/a> said. &#8220;It&#8217;s hard to pick those kinds of guys up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Right now, Imanaga, <a data-player-guid=\"18179f89-dcb9-9d42-a7ec-99aa1c26c5fb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34401\/matthew-boyd\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew Boyd<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"0fb7a375-aa88-3a2d-a8ec-698f8f1949a8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4692526\/cade-horton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cade Horton<\/a> line up as the team&#8217;s top three starters with Imanaga and Boyd the two locks for the team&#8217;s postseason rotation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scout: <\/strong>&#8220;Hiccup is their pitching: They have playoff starters in Imanaga and Boyd (I like Boyd, but he has history of injuries and fatigue). Others like Cade Horton and <a data-player-guid=\"bfa0cdb3-03e1-c0a0-2bb7-e084bc06e972\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33950\/colin-rea\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Rea<\/a> can turn in a good game but not sure you feel comfortable handing the ball in a Game 3.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Executive: <\/strong>&#8220;I really thought the Cubs would add another starting pitcher. I think they have enough pitching to get to October, but I worry about them being able to match up against some of the other really deep NL clubs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach: <\/strong>&#8220;Outside of Imanaga, they have good, five-inning pitchers for October. I&#8217;ll take my chances against Horton, Taillon or even Boyd a third time through the order, but I like Imanaga. It&#8217;s always hard to square him up.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bullpen<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cubs&#8217; bullpen ranks 12th in ERA with deadline additions of Rogers and Kittredge joining to fill a specific need.<\/p>\n<p>According to ESPN Research, before those trades, the team ranked last in baseball by a wide margin in sinkerball usage. In fact, the Cubs&#8217; 4.9% rate of throwing the pitch would be the lowest by any team since as far back as available data (2008).<\/p>\n<p>Rogers (50%) and Kittredge (34%) immediately become the team&#8217;s top sinkerballers, an important trait when needing a double play on a team with standout infield defenders.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re guys that have a different pitch profile,&#8221; shortstop <a data-player-guid=\"a004a121-0eb2-f885-7517-73688de8e933\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34895\/dansby-swanson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dansby Swanson<\/a> said. &#8220;It really helps give some new looks in our bullpen. Hopefully, our defense can help them too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>GMs tell their best (and wildest) trade stories<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/r1514453_2_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>From texts during birth and funerals to the best deadline deals that never happened, MLB front-office execs tell all. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/45661110\/mlb-trade-deadline-2025-gms-best-stories-deals-fell-rumors\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jesse Rogers \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Scout: <\/strong>&#8220;They have addressed their bullpen, but still has some weak links. Very good defensive club that can prevent runs for those guys.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Executive: <\/strong>&#8220;October baseball usually centers around pitching, and I do have concerns about their ability to win a long series.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I understand why they didn&#8217;t go after those closers that changed teams, but you&#8217;re asking a lot out of <a data-player-guid=\"407987ff-7976-33b1-bbcb-3a6ab453a208\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4875225\/daniel-palencia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">[Daniel] Palencia<\/a> in October. I&#8217;m not sure they have enough.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach: <\/strong>&#8220;When we faced them, <a data-player-guid=\"5a308ffb-db14-fdfe-ffa0-76ae20567ae1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35292\/brad-keller\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brad Keller<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"3632a019-d14b-a5e9-fd85-e8ad7abdb1fa\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/31010\/drew-pomeranz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Drew Pomeranz<\/a> were lights-out. But you can never have enough. I read where they have three lefties now, which will come in handy when facing teams like the Phillies. <a data-player-guid=\"b381aada-0d7b-912b-c203-cf9f0284c223\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32440\/caleb-thielbar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caleb Thielbar<\/a> is underrated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cubs&#8217; offense has been near the top of the league for most of the season but is slumping of late. The middle of the order has gone quiet, starting with All-Star <a data-player-guid=\"b963b85d-6db2-f0e5-b763-88d4a41c0d73\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/34967\/kyle-tucker\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyle Tucker<\/a> who is hitting just .212 since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n<p>The team decided to not seek a third baseman as <a data-player-guid=\"1a1ec65f-a81f-8ce9-9f38-7275b93a2474\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/32367\/eugenio-suarez\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eugenio Suarez<\/a>, <a data-player-guid=\"b148634d-df11-9803-b3dd-d033d0115ea6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/33247\/ryan-mcmahon\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan McMahon<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"9bc31ab9-6e54-8b62-8a44-28e06b260e1a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/35020\/kebryan-hayes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ke&#8217;Bryan Hayes<\/a> all moved at the trade deadline. Instead the Cubs chose to acquire super-utility man Willi Castro from the <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"a6e97b3f-4244-98be-79a2-f4b33f3365e6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/team\/_\/name\/min\/minnesota-twins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Minnesota Twins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Castro has already demonstrated his versatility. In his first few days with the team, he started four games at four different positions, giving regulars a break as the dog days of August descended.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;You know that&#8217;s not normal, right?&#8217;<img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/r1508251_608x342_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Inside the rise of Pete Crow-Armstrong, MLB&#8217;s next superstar. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/45524564\/mlb-2025-pete-crow-armstrong-chicago-cubs-rising-star\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jesse Rogers \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think he fills another need,&#8221; Swanson said. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t really have that. &#8230; I&#8217;m never surprised by the deadline. He adds to what we have here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scout: <\/strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a good offense all year. They should have enough speed there as playoffs can come down to a stolen base.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Superior up-the-middle defense. <a data-player-guid=\"52d0b18a-1810-3aa6-b963-84ecef72a66d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/42415\/michael-busch\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">[Michael] Busch<\/a> is the best underrated player that can play good defense and contributes well offensively. <a data-player-guid=\"13a9edb7-04d4-3c62-85d7-8fcc41b9104b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/player\/_\/id\/4867667\/matt-shaw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">[Matt] Shaw<\/a>&#8216;s defense is strong and the addition of Castro helps as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Their weakness is the bench, but Castro could change that. That&#8217;s a good pickup that a lot of teams were looking at.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Executive: &#8220;<\/strong>The good news for them here is that they have a tremendous offensive team, so they are going to be a difficult matchup for anyone in the playoffs. &#8230; There are plenty of teams that could use a Willi Castro, so that&#8217;s a good pickup.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach: <\/strong>&#8220;They&#8217;re vulnerable against lefties. When Tucker isn&#8217;t hitting them, they&#8217;re going to have trouble. But he usually does, so that sets up that whole middle of their lineup. Since you asked, I didn&#8217;t think they would touch their offense at the deadline. They have the pieces already there to do damage both in power and speed.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jesse RogersAug 8, 2025, 07:00 AM ET Close Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":131548,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1266,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-131547","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-mlb","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114998477047473124","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}