The Cubs’ rotation just took a devastating hit. Justin Steele will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery, ending his 2025 season and leaving Chicago’s pitching staff in a precarious position.
Chicago had banked on Steele and Shota Imanaga forming a potent lefty tandem atop their rotation. Now, they’re left with a staff that’s both thin and lacking top-end talent. While their lineup looks playoff-ready, the rotation suddenly doesn’t match up well in a competitive National League.
So what’s the fix? A trade seems inevitable, and one name stands out above the rest.
Michael King of the Padres just tossed a complete-game shutout against Colorado on Sunday, further cementing his status as one of the most coveted arms who might hit the trade market. That’s if San Diego falls out of contention — which at 13-3, doesn’t seem likely right now.
Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell proposed a hypothetical deal sending King to Chicago for a package of three prospects: utility man James Triantos, outfielder Kevin Alcántara, and right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins.
“For the Cubs to land him, they would need to part ways with a serious prospect haul,” Pressnell wrote. “Sending three talented prospects like James Triantos, Kevin Alcántara and Jaxon Wiggins to the Padres would be the price of doing business with a fellow contender.”
He added: “The Cubs have shown the willingness to go all in by acquiring (Kyle) Tucker. They will need to continue to chase the World Series with aggressive moves like this one.”
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King, 29, has blossomed since becoming a full-time starter last season. He finished seventh in Cy Young voting after posting a 2.95 ERA in 2024, and he’s been even better to start 2025 with a 2.42 ERA and 24 strikeouts through 22 1/3 innings.
The timing makes sense for a deal. King hits free agency this winter, and Spotrac projects him for a four-year, $71 million contract — though that’s likely a conservative estimate given his performance. The typically frugal Padres, who barely opened their wallets before the season, will struggle to retain both King and Dylan Cease long-term.
But here’s the catch: San Diego’s hot start makes any deal involving King extremely unlikely. If the Padres remain in the playoff hunt, they’re not parting with a pitcher who could be key to a championship run.
That leaves the Cubs in a tough spot. They’ve got the offensive firepower to compete, but without Steele, their rotation suddenly looks like a major weakness in a league full of pitching-rich contenders.
