The Chicago Cubs are expected to aggressively seek starting pitching upgrades before the trade deadline on July 31.

The 54-36 Cubs are in a prime position to win the National League Central for the first time since 2020 with a dynamic, high-scoring offense and amazing defense.

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Pitching and injuries seem like the only possible obstacles that may stand in their way at postseason success, so acquiring quality arms is a necessity.

Chicago has been linked to Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara for quite some time now, and lots of hypothetical trade proposals have been made.

Garrett Kerman of ClutchPoints made one of his own, but is it too much for the Cubs to give up?

Kerman’s proposal has the Cubs acquiring Alcantara in exchange for outfielder Owen Caissie (Cubs No. 1, MLB No. 43) and right-hander Cade Horton.

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This may not seem like the worst proposal for Alcantara, considering several others include Caissie and/or Horton with other prospects, but this would be a lot for Chicago to offer a pitcher with a 7 ERA.

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Alcantara, 29, isn’t having a great season coming off Tommy John surgery. The 2022 NL Cy Young winner is 4-8 with a 7.01 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP in 17 starts.

Yes, Alcantara is under contract until 2028. But the Cubs are in win-now mode with Kyle Tucker potentially leaving for free agency after just one season in Cubbie blue, and it doesn’t look like Alcantara has fully regained his dominant form.

If Tucker doesn’t re-sign with the Cubs, Caissie would be the next man up (unless the Cubs put Seiya Suzuki back in right field for the final year of his contract).

Caissie, 22, has dominated minor league pitching in his short career. He has 16 home runs and 39 RBI while slashing .280/.388/.556 in 70 games for Triple-A Iowa this season.

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Horton looks like he will be a star in this league for a long time. He stepped into the rotation following Shota Imanaga’s injury and has pitched well enough to stay when he returned.

Horton, 23, is 3-2 with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 10 appearances (nine starts).

The Cubs need to act fast, but is Alcantara the right piece to the puzzle this season?

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