Cubs urged to make 'no-brainer' Joe Ryan decision to boost World Series odds

Jul 22, 2026 - 15:30

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Cubs urged to make 'no-brainer' Joe Ryan decision to boost World Series odds originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs should be dialed in on the starting pitching market at the trade deadline.

Injuries have derailed the seasons of starters like Cade Horton and Justin Steele. Edward Cabrera is also hurt and hasn't had the strongest season on the mound.

That's just the tip of the iceberg for the Cubs. They'll need to address the rotation at the Aug. 3 deadline.

"At this point, it's looking like they'll be crossing their fingers with Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga in the first two games of the postseason," Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote.

"And they're both impending free agents, so Chicago is presumably searching for more than just rentals to address the rotation," Miller added.

Cubs look to Twins for rotation help

Winning and losing a postseason series can come down to which team takes the first game, and Joe Ryan from the Minnesota Twins would be a much better option than anyone the Cubs currently have.

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Ryan is a two-time All-Star with one year of control after the 2026 season. He has great command of his fastball, which has helped him strike out 10.3 batters per nine innings this year.

"Though Joe Ryan just got shelled for six home runs by the Guardians on Monday, he has otherwise had an excellent season and could be the no-brainer G1 starter for the Cubs—if the Twins end up selling," Miller added.

The Twins must decide to sell to make this trade idea a reality. If I'm a Cubs fan, I'm rooting for Minnesota to drop in the standings over the next week or so.