Cubs Listed As Fit In Potential Trade Deadline Deal For Crosstown Rival Pitcher

The Chicago Cubs are one of the better teams in baseball, but they came into the trade deadline needing to add depth to their starting rotation.

On Wednesday, they swung a deal, albeit a rather expensive one, to acquire pitcher Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals. While this is a decent trade to add an innings eater, the Cubs need to do more.

FanSided’s Aldo Soto recently suggested the Cubs still look to swing a trade for Chicago White Sox pitcher Adrian Houser following their deal to land Soroka.

“Houser has been impressive in 2025, and the Cubs saw first-hand at Rate Field. The righty recorded his ninth quality start of the season, holding the Cubs to three runs over 6.2 innings,” Soto wrote. “Houser has a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts with the White Sox and has previous success under current Cubs’ skipper Craig Counsell.

“The Cubs not only need a frontline starter, and acquiring a second arm such as Houser should give them some breathing room in the rotation that has been wrecked by injuries this season.”

It’s hard to imagine the Cubs’ fanbase being happy with Soroka and Houser as their two pitching additions at the deadline after the team was linked to Dylan Cease, Sandy Alcántara and other aces.

But Houser would be a great pickup for the Cubs. He’s been excellent this season and at worst would be an innings eater for the North Siders.

At this point in the year, it’s a 50-game sprint to the postseason. Acquiring Houser to make 10 starts with the team would be a huge move that could help the Cubs win three or four additional games down the stretch.

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