The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching at the trade deadline, and ideally, Jed Hoyer would like to make a deal for a pitcher who is under control for multiple years beyond 2026. There aren’t many options, but according to The Athletic, the Cubs are interested in Emerson Hancock of the Seattle Mariners, though they may ultimately be better suited to work out a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, who have two starting pitchers up for grabs.
Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon touched on the Cubs’ interests in the trade market, and it turns out that they might have exactly what the Angels want in return.
But the Cubs, canvassing the entire market for starters, potentially could line up with the Los Angeles Angels for righty José Soriano or lefty Reid Detmers as well.
The Angels, according to a person briefed on their pursuits, are interested in acquiring a young catcher. Owen Ayers, the Cubs’ No. 10 prospect according to The Athletic’s Keith Law, might qualify. Ayers, 25, started the season in High A and is now at Triple A.
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The price for either of the Angels’ starting pitchers would be higher than that of Owen Ayers, but he would be a good secondary piece coming from the Cubs. Ayers has a 1.038 OPS in 82 games this season in the minor leagues. The switch-hitting catcher was promoted to Triple-A following the All-Star break.
So, what prospects would the Cubs need to add? Well, a trade for a good starting pitcher who is under control for multiple years is going to hurt. According to Matthew Trueblood, the Angels love Jefferson Rojas. However, maybe the Cubs can stack a deal with quantity over the high ceiling of Rojas.
Via North Side Baseball.
A report Thursday at The Athletic seemed to suggest that the Angels might accept catcher Owen Ayers as a centerpiece in a deal for either hurler. I asked around about that; it’s a mischaracterization. Ayers is a prospect with rising stock, but not one with much ceiling, and the Angels’ interest in him would be as a co-headliner, at most. If the Cubs deal for Soriano or Detmers, it’s more likely to be the latter—and it’s likely to hurt. Rojas is one player the Angels have liked when scouting the Cubs system in the recent past; the newly promoted James Triantos is another
Looking at both pitchers, it might seem like a simple decision on who the Cubs would prefer. Jose Soriano has a 3.43 ERA with a 24.8 K% in 118 innings. However, the Cubs actually prefer Reid Detmers, according to Trueblood.
On the surface, you may raise an eyebrow looking at his 4.05 ERA, but Detmers has been a strikeout machine in 2026, posting a 27.6 K% in 120 innings. The left-hander’s strikeout rate is 12th among all qualified starting pitchers so far this season, and it’s basically on par with another Cubs-fans favorite target, Joe Ryan.
Detmers has strong peripherals to back him up, including a 3.27 FIP, 3.68 xFIP, and an expected ERA of 3.32. His walk rate is under control at 7.5%, while allowing less than a home run per nine innings.
Since May 24, Detmers has made 11 starts, and he’s been pretty damn good, recording a 3.18 ERA with a 29.1 K% in 65 innings.
Meanwhile, after an unreal start to the season, Soriano has struggled in his last 11 starts, posting a 4.47 ERA and 21.8 K% in 58.1 innings. During that 11-start span, Soriano’s walk rate has also increased to 11.1%.
Either pitcher would be a solid acquisition for the Cubs, but Detmers might actually be the guy who gives the Cubs a higher upside in the rotation down the stretch and into the playoffs.
