The Chicago Cubs have surged out to an 11-8 record as of April 14, which is good for first place in the National League Central. The acquisition of Kyle Tucker was a big move for the Cubs, although it cost a lot to acquire him from the Houston Astros.
But, the Cubs were dealt a brutal injury blow with Justin Steele being ruled out for the rest of the season due to injuries. As such, the pressure is on the Cubs front office to get things done and make a playoff push, which just got more difficult with Steele out for the season.
Pressure on Cubs Front Office After Justin Steele Injury
Steele is out for the year after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon and UCL in his left elbow, so it’s a tough loss.
Steele had started off with a 3-1 record and a 4.76 ERA in 22.2 innings, although he tossed seven scoreless innings in his latest start on April 7 against the Texas Rangers in a win. Now, the attention turns to the front office. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic hopped on 670 THE Score and discussed what can be done in the wake of Steele’s injury.
“You can not replace what Justin Steele brings. He’s become this stable force in the rotation the last couple of years,” Sharma said. “What do they do?”
“It’s going to be hard to replicate that,” Sharma said about trying to replace Steele. “We’re talking in a month or two or three, what the trade deadline looks like.”
“This is a front office that’s going to be aggressive because their jobs are on the line, right? So I expect them to be aggressive to upgrade the pitching staff both in the bullpen and in the rotation depending on what needs really emerge.”
.@sahadevsharma after the Cubs lose Justin Steele for the season: "This is a front office that's going to be aggressive because their jobs are on the line, right? So I expect them to be aggressive to upgrade the pitching staff." pic.twitter.com/DI8LpwxPHR
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) April 14, 2025
It’s a big blow for the Cubs, especially with Steele being a consistent force the past few years. Since 2021, he has been a mainstay of the Cubs rotation. He has pitched in 20 or more games every season and thrown for 100 or more innings each of the past three, so he can eat up innings while winning games at a high level.
As Sharma said, only time will tell who is available and what the Cubs need. But, one obvious option is Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who will likely be one of the top pitchers on the market when the trade frenzy begins to heat up.
Whether or not the front office in Chicago pays up to get Alcantara remains to be seen, but the pressure is on, and their jobs could be on the line if they fall short of a playoff run.