In order for the Chicago Cubs to be considered true contenders in the National League, they need to play close to flawless baseball for the rest of July. As the number of losses grows, so do the rumors of who could depart the North Side at the trade deadline. The latest rumor involving starting pitcher Jameson Taillon makes too much sense to ignore.
Throughout 2024, the Cubs have had more bad stretches than good. This has led them to a sub-500 record and an uncomfortable position at the bottom of the NL Central division. Not only that, even though they are the last team in the NL within striking distance of the Wild Card spot, almost every team ahead of them owns a tiebreaker. That’s why the Cubs need to play flawless baseball.
Even though the Cubs have been struggling, the starting rotation has been one of the best in baseball. And although Taillon started the season on the injured list, he has been an asset for the Cubs in that rotation since returning. Although he started the season on the injured list, Taillon returned healthy and has done an excellent job for the Cubs. His 3.10 ERA is third-best in the rotation behind Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga.
But if this team cannot figure out how to back up the brilliant starts they’re getting out of Taillon and the rotation, the Cubs front office will have to look at what it can acquire at the deadline to help the team in 2025 and beyond. Taillon is smack in the middle of the rumors swirling with a favorable contract. The latest rumor may make too much sense to ignore.
Bob Nightengale joined the Foul Territory show to discuss the league’s sellers and buyers as the trade deadline approaches. While the Cubs are still middling between the two options, Nightengale mentions that they have a pitcher in Jameson Taillon who the Boston Red Sox may want to trade for. He also mentions Erick Fedde of the Chicago White Sox.
Taillon to the Red Sox makes sense in terms of on-field production. The Sox definitely need another quality starter in their rotation to keep up with the rest of the competitive American League. Regarding current records, they own the toughest remaining schedule in the league.
Beyond that, the Red Sox have a man named Craig Breslow running things as their Chief Baseball Officer in Boston. Breslow’s name may sound familiar here in Chicago because he was part of the front office for the Cubs from 2019-2022. In his last two seasons with the Cubs, Breslow served as the Assistant General Manager.
In that role, Breslow played a key role in recruiting Jameson Taillon and helping convince him to sign with the Cubs in free agency. But he never got to experience Taillon pitching for the Cubs. Just after Taillon signed, Breslow accepted his position with the Red Sox.
As the Red Sox look to make a run to play baseball in October, they will almost certainly be active at the trade deadline. If the Cubs sell, Taillon is a player that makes a lot of sense to capitalize on his value. I’m not saying this is his value, but I’m just noting that the Red Sox currently have four players on MLB’s list of the top 100 prospects.
