The Chicago Cubs will be forced to make some difficult decisions this upcoming trade deadline. There have been various rumors and reports flying around in recent weeks. One of the most recent developments is that the Cubs have shown interest in pitchers Edward Cabrera, Seth Lugo, and Kyle Finnegan, according to MLB insider Ari Alexander. None of these are necessarily brand new, as rumors have been circulating about all of these individuals, but they are intriguing. They plan to go after a reliever or two, hence why they are showing interest in Finnegan. Their biggest issue is starting pitching, but who is the better option between Lugo and Cabrera?
Cubs Showing Interest in Two Starters, Reliever at Deadline
Addressing the Bullpen
The Cubs’ bullpen this year has been extremely solid, but they are going to need more help if they want to be serious contenders. Reliever options this year are slim, and the high-end guys come at a steep price. That’s why a guy like Kyle Finnegan is of interest to the Cubs. While he wouldn’t be a guaranteed game-changer, he would provide another solid arm. As the Washington Nationals’ closer this year, he has pitched 38 innings with a 4.50 ERA and 19 saves. Finnegan hasn’t pitched as well as in previous seasons, but his Baseball Savant page suggests he is pitching better than his ERA suggests. He wouldn’t cost a major price for the Cubs, and if they acquire him and one other solid reliever, they will be in a great position.
I keep hearing the Cubs linked to many different pitchers.
Kyle Finnegan, Edward Cabrera and Seth Lugo are three that I’ve been told the Cubs have showed interest in. pic.twitter.com/grJWRBYW91
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 27, 2025
Cabrera or Lugo?
Edward Cabrera and Seth Lugo are just two of several pitchers that the Cubs have shown interest in. These are two very good pitchers who have different play styles. If you take a look at their basic stats, Seth Lugo has the slight edge. Lugo has pitched 113 innings this year and has a 2.95 ERA and a 1.088 WHIP. Cabrera, on the other hand, has only pitched 88 innings with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.239 WHIP. But if you take a look at the advanced statistics, Cabrera has a clear advantage.
Taking a look at their Baseball Savant pages, Cabrera is better in every pitching statistical category except for walk rate. The biggest differences are in fastball velocity, chase percentage, and whiff percentage. He also induces a whole lot more ground balls than Lugo. On the contrary, Lugo does provide a slightly greater pitching run value. Lugo also has more experience, which could be seen as good or bad, considering he has more playoff games under his belt, but he is heading toward retirement quicker. However, this isn’t a huge issue if they are looking for a one-year rental.
Both of these pitchers are on deals through 2025, and Lugo has a player option for the 2026 season. This suggests that if either were traded for, they would be one-year rentals. That being said, Edward Cabrera has the slight edge over Lugo for a few reasons. First of all, Cabrera has a much better-looking Baseball Savant page, which suggests that Lugo has been more lucky than good this year. Additionally, while Lugo has more experience than Cabrera, he has only pitched in five playoff games, and Cabrera would bring a young energy and fire to the team. Finally, Cabrera has pitched slightly better than Lugo in the last month, and the Cubs need good pitching right now. Overall, if it came down to Lugo or Cabrera, either would be an amazing get, but Cabrera is slightly preferable.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
