Could a lost weekend at Citi Field make the Chicago Cubs more inclined to deal for a starting pitcher?
The rotation was a strength for the Cubs during a torrid start, but the rotation has been very ordinary of late with a 6.09 ERA the last 10 games. Jason Hammel, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester combined to surrender 26 hits and 22 earned runs over the last three contests as the Mets completed a four-game sweep.
The Cubs, of course, have no plans to overhaul the rotation, but they might be looking to add depth. One option is Rich Hill, and the Cubs were among the teams to scout the Oakland Athletics left-hander in his return from the disabled list Saturday, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Pirates and Royals were among the other teams with scouts in attendance Saturday, so the Cubs are far from alone in their pursuit.
There is precedence for an early July deal between the Athletics and Cubs. The clubs celebrated Independence Day 2014 by sending Jeff Samardzija to Oakland in a blockbuster deal that saw Addison Russell land in Chicago.
Hills owns a 2.31 ERA over 12 starts and is signed to a modest one-year, $6 million deal.