The Chicago Cubs entered the trade deadline with clear intentions of bolstering their starting rotation, aiming for high-end pitching to fuel a deep playoff run. Despite aggressive pursuit reports, their actual acquisitions—two relievers, an infielder/outfielder, and one starter—left many questioning if they truly addressed their most pressing need.

Among the new additions, Michael Soroka stands out as a critical, yet concerning, piece of the puzzle. His 4.87 ERA over 16 appearances this season offers little confidence, further compounded by a history of injuries that has severely limited his innings pitched since 2019. Now, Soroka, despite his checkered past, is expected to fill a vital spot in a strained Cubs rotation.

Rookie Cade Horton, while showcasing brilliant recent form with a stellar 1.25 ERA over his last five starts, presents another layer of complexity. His impressive performances are shadowed by a significant innings limit, having already surpassed his previous career high between minor and major league assignments. This raises legitimate concerns about his durability as the team pushes into the intense latter half of the 2025 season.

Veteran Matthew Boyd also adds to the rotation’s precarious balance. Coming off Tommy John surgery and a history of other ailments, Boyd has already logged more innings this year than in any season since 2019. The Cubs’ current strategy with him appears to be largely reliant on continued good health and a fair amount of hopeful thinking, a risky proposition for a contending team.

The depth beyond these three offers little reassurance. Jameson Taillon is sidelined with a right calf strain, while Javier Assad, out all season with oblique issues, is only just beginning a rehab assignment. Other options like veteran swingman Colin Rea have been inconsistent, and sophomore Ben Brown, despite his potential, has struggled to find consistent form.

In essence, the Chicago Cubs are heading into August and the thick of the pennant race with an eight-man rotation pool for five spots, where five pitchers are battling injury or durability concerns, and two are grappling with performance issues. This collective state positions their rotation in the bottom half of Major League Baseball.

The failure to secure a more reliable, “sure-thing” starter at the trade deadline has undoubtedly placed the Cubs in a challenging predicament. Their postseason aspirations now hinge precariously on an exceptional amount of savvy managerial maneuvering and an abundance of good fortune to navigate the demanding stretch run with a rotation fraught with question marks.