For the first time in awhile, Cubs<\/a> fans have reason to be excited about the possibilities the trade deadline could bring.<\/p>\n Will the Marlins\u2019 Sandy Alcantara shrink his 8.47 ERA and make himself a trade target? Or will team president Jed Hoyer\u2019s front office turn to more surprising sellers in its search for pitching reinforcements?<\/p>\n One thing\u2019s sure after the Cubs moved to 15 games above .500 with a win on June 1: They will be buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a great group here, and whenever you talk about adding people at the trade deadline, then it means you\u2019re replacing people. So it\u2019s kind of a touchy subject,\u201d starting pitcher Jameson Taillon told the Sun-Times on Saturday. \u201cBut it\u2019s always good to put Jed and [GM Carter Hawkins] in that position, where they\u2019re looking to add to the team.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last two years I\u2019ve been here, it\u2019s been like, \u2018What are we going to do?\u2019 This year, let\u2019s put it in their hands, [where they can say], \u2018We\u2019re going to add to this team, we see something special in this group.\u2019 That\u2019s how I look at it: almost make their job easier, put them in a position to have a clear direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Not only is the direction clear, but so is what tops the shopping list.<\/p>\n Injuries have thinned the starting rotation, with Justin Steele done for the year, Shota Imanaga on the IL and Javier Assad yet to throw a major league pitch this season.<\/p>\n If the Cubs are serious about chasing championship-level goals, they\u2019ll be searching for starting pitching come July.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t think that the idea of an incoming cavalry is an exclusively exciting one to the guys who are busy trying to keep the starting staff afloat.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone comes into this clubhouse, that means someone has to leave this clubhouse, whether it\u2019s a trade or a call-up or a send-down or anything like that,\u201d starting pitcher Matthew Boyd told the Sun-Times on Sunday. \u201cWe\u2019re really grateful for the guys that are here. We\u2019re grateful for the guys that are in this clubhouse, the guys we\u2019ve been battling with and working with since February.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, the arms that are currently starting games for the Cubs have done an admirable job while the rotation\u2019s top two pitchers have been sidelined. With trades for high-profile replacements rare in the season\u2019s opening months, the team has had to rely on internal solutions, and they\u2019ve stepped up.<\/p>\n Boyd has been excellent after signing as a free agent in the offseason. Another winter addition, Colin Rea, has been great moving from the bullpen to the rotation. Taillon has been dependable even while leading the sport in home runs allowed. Top-rated pitching prospect Cade Horton hasn\u2019t allowed more than three runs in a major league outing. Only Ben Brown has consistently struggled, and he had his best performance of the season Saturday.<\/p>\n With the exception of Boyd, who has been one of baseball\u2019s better qualified starters, the group has perhaps not dazzled as Steele and Imanaga have the ability to do. But despite ranking 19th in baseball with a 4.02 starter\u2019s ERA, these Cubs hurlers are proud of themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve done a pretty good job,\u201d Taillon said. \u201cObviously, really hard to replace a Justin Steele or a Shota \u2014 even Assad, he\u2019s been really good for us \u2014 so we\u2019re definitely losing some quality arms in the rotation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the cool thing for us is a lot of these guys have stepped in and they\u2019re not trying to be Justin Steele or Shota. Cade\u2019s just trying to be Cade. Ben\u2019s trying to be Ben. Colin\u2019s being Colin. And hopefully me and Boyd can provide that stability. When we\u2019re in there, guys can hopefully look at us and say, \u2018We\u2019re in the game today.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Playoff-bound teams upgrade in July, and the first-place Cubs are steaming toward October at 37-22. It\u2019s likely \u2014 perhaps necessary \u2014 Hoyer will do something to boost this rotation.<\/p>\n Until then, and even after, these pitchers are fine to keep shouldering the load, embracing the task of keeping the fires burning even without their All-Star rotation teammates.<\/p>\n \u201cThat situation always comes for teams that are in winning situations,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t affect what we do. Plusses or subtractions or anything, it doesn\u2019t change what we go do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n De La Cruz hit a two-run homer and scored two runs in Cincinnati\u2019s 7-3 loss to the Cubs. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/div>\n Shaw made two stellar plays at third base in the Cubs\u2019 victory Sunday, his glove continuing to stand out since his return from the minors.<\/p>\n
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