Just weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs were the darlings of the National League—riding a pair of 10-game winning streaks, dominating at Wrigley Field, and looking like a legitimate contender. Now? They’re in a free fall that has insiders questioning whether this team is even playoff-caliber. Sources close to the organization say the mood in the front office has shifted from confidence to urgent concern after the Cubs dropped 10 straight games and have managed only a .500 pace since.
The losing hasn’t just been a slump—it’s reportedly exposed deep structural flaws. Starting pitching has crumbled. Power hitting has vanished. And the energy that carried them through April and early May has seemingly evaporated. According to one insider, “There’s a real fear that if they don’t make aggressive moves soon, this season could slip away entirely.”
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is said to be under immense pressure to act. While the front office publicly insists the team can snap out of it, behind closed doors, sources claim Hoyer is already zeroing in on two specific players who could change the trajectory of the season. And neither is the flashy name every other team is chasing.
The Pitching Staff Has Hit a Breaking Point
Let’s be blunt: aside from rookie sensation Ben Brown—who has a 1.74 ERA and 58 strikeouts over six starts—the Cubs’ rotation is a mess. Shota Imanaga, once a reliable arm, has seen his ERA balloon to 4.74 and has served up 17 home runs. Jameson Taillon exited Sunday’s start in the second inning with what the team is calling “discomfort,” and Edward Cabrera’s 4.99 ERA suggests he’s more liability than asset. Even Colin Rea, despite a 5-3 record, has a 4.59 ERA that insiders say masks deeper control issues.
The obvious prize on the trade market is Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. But here’s the problem: multiple contenders are reportedly preparing to drive up the price to astronomical levels. One league source told us the bidding war could be “brutal” and that the Cubs would have to part with their top prospects to even get in the conversation. That’s a gamble Hoyer may not be willing to take—especially with Skubal nearing free agency.
Michael Wacha: The Quiet Stabilizer the Cubs Desperately Need
Instead, sources say the Cubs are zeroing in on Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha. And honestly, it makes sense. Wacha owns a 3.44 ERA with nine quality starts this season and has posted four consecutive solid campaigns. He’s not going to blow hitters away with triple-digit heat, but he brings something the Cubs currently lack: reliability.
“When Wacha takes the mound, you know what you’re getting—a professional, gutty performance,” one evaluator told us. For a Chicago pitching staff that has become a nightly guessing game, that kind of consistency could be the anchor they need to steady the ship.
Luis Arraez: The Contact Machine Who Could Fix Chicago’s Offense
But pitching isn’t the only area of concern. The Cubs’ offense, which was erupting during those 15 straight wins at Wrigley, has gone ice cold. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Nico Hoerner have all seen their clutch production dip. And then there’s Alex Bregman—the former Astros and Red Sox star who signed with Chicago amid high expectations—but has delivered a disastrous slash line of .243/.327/.342 with just five home runs. Insiders say his struggles have become a locker room distraction, with one source noting, “The energy around him is flat—it’s affecting everyone.”
Enter Luis Arraez. The three-time batting champion currently slashing .323/.359/.431 for the Giants is everything the Cubs lack: a disciplined, contact-first hitter who almost never strikes out. He’s struck out just 12 times in 277 plate appearances this season. Arraez doesn’t hit homers, but he hits the ball exactly where it’s pitched—and he can play first, second, or third base. According to reports, the Cubs have quietly done background work on him and view him as a potential culture-changer.
The Road Ahead: Two Moves That Could Flip the Script
Wacha and Arraez aren’t the biggest names on the market—other teams will chase Freddy Peralta, Nathan Eovaldi, Casey Mize, Jarren Duran, Taylor Ward, and Adley Rutschman. But insiders say the Cubs’ brass believes these two less-heralded players could have the most impact without emptying the farm system.
If Hoyer is serious about saving this season, the clock is ticking. Every loss deepens the hole, and with the NL Central tightening up, the margin for error is shrinking fast. Sources say the Cubs have their targets—now it’s a question of whether they’ll pull the trigger before it’s too late.
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