The Chicago Cubs have made one notable trade, but their goal is to add multiple pitchers by Monday night’s trade deadline, and at least one is expected to be a reliever to bolster the bullpen. They’re reportedly interested in big-name targets like Jeff Hoffman and Luke Weaver, but the primary objective is to get more firepower out of their high-leverage arms, so whoever can provide more strikeouts will be on Jed Hoyer’s shortlist.
So, let’s take a look at a handful of under-the-radar trade targets who can give the Cubs a major boost in the strikeout department down the stretch and into the postseason.
Drew Anderson
The Detroit Tigers traded Tarik Skubal and may be trading away Casey Mize soon, too. The American League is weak, so even at 54-58, the Tigers are only 2.5 games back of a playoff spot. Still, they may be inclined to trade another rental-type pitcher in Drew Anderson, who does have a $10 million club option for the 2027 season.
Anderson, 32, had limited MLB action with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Texas Rangers from 2017-2021 before going overseas and finding success pitching in Japan and South Korea. The right-handed pitcher returned to the States this past offseason, and his increased velocity has led to better results.
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So far in 63.2 innings, Anderson has a 28.3 K% and 8.7 BB% while also generating a 47.9% ground ball rate. Anderson has a 4.24 ERA, but since April 24 he’s recorded a 3.44 ERA with a 30.6 K%.
Jacob Latz
The Cubs will have three left-handed relievers in the bullpen once Hoby Milner returns from his rehab assignment, but Jacob Latz could provide another elite arm from the left side. The 30-year-old reliever won’t be a free agent until 2031, and he’s having an incredible 2026 season, posting a 1.80 ERA with a 28.0 K%, 6.00 BB%, and a 40.7% ground ball rate with a fastball that sits at 95mph.
Latz has not been the subject of trade rumors until Monday morning. The Texas Rangers have fallen out of first place in the AL West, losing five games in a row, and are four games below .500 since the All-Star break.
Latz, a native from Lemont, was an All-Star for the Rangers this year.
Anthony Bender
Another reliever who is under team control beyond 2026 is right-hander Anthony Bender from the Miami Marlins. The 31-year-old will be arb-eligible next year. He’s been great his entire MLB career with the Marlins, putting up a 2.97 ERA in 218 innings. In 2026, Bender has a 2.62 ERA, 29.3 K%, 8.6 BB%, and his 44% ground ball rate would also be great on the Cubs.
The Marlins have reportedly made a lot of their players available at the trade deadline outside of their core pitchers in the starting rotation. So, if the Cubs want more certainty, and want to pay more for a reliever, but not as high of a price compared to what it would take for Luke Weaver, then Bender could be the play.
And now for the possible trade that would piss off a lot of Cubs fans. They were interested in trading for Pete Fairbanks last summer, when the closer was with the Tampa Bay Rays, and then the Cubs were once again interested in Fairbanks as a free agent in the offseason. Could they be interested in him now?
Well, the right-handed pitcher does have a 30.1 K% in 35.1 innings, but Fairbanks also has a 6.37 ERA in 38 appearances. Maybe, just maybe, the Cubs could limit his exposure against left-handed hitters, who have pretty much been the main reason for his awful overall numbers. While left-handed hitters have destroyed Fairbanks in 2026, he has been elite when facing right-handed hitters.
Pete Fairbanks Splits
vs. LHH: 9.64 ERA, 7 HR, .263/.364/.618, 22 K, 11 BB
vs. RHH: 2.70 ERA, 1 HR, .200/.279/.283, 25 K, 5 BB
Fairbanks signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Marlins. He is 17 for 20 in save chances this year.
The Cubs have also been linked to right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela. The former starter has a 3.61 ERA in his first full season as a reliever for the Colorado Rockies. He throws hard, averaging 97mph, but that hasn’t necessarily resulted in a high volume of strikeouts. Senzatela’s strikeout rate is currently at 21%. However, he does produce a ground ball rate above 40%, and his numbers away from Coors Field are good, as Senzatela has a 2.57 ERA in 28 innings on the road in 2026.
