Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox bidding war for trade deadline pitcher?

The Chicago Cubs are feeling the pressure with less than a full week to go before the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

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Per every media report (and just plain common sense), pitching will be their primary focus in the days leading up to the deadline. Smashed with an unprecedented wave of pitching injuries this season, the team finds itself short four starting pitchers, their closer, and a handful of bullpen arms. Otherwise a very good team with true playoff potential, their success in the postseason will hinge on how much pitching they can bring with them to the end of the regular season.

The Chicago White Sox, meanwhile, are the surprises of 2026, currently atop the AL Central Division, two games ahead of the second place Cleveland Guardians. They are also in pursuit of starting pitching by the deadline.

Crosstown trade deadline bidding war?

Reid Detmers, Chicago White Sox — May 30, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers (48) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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According to a recent report, both teams currently have their eyes on one young arm in particular.

Per Russell Dorsey of Yahoo! Sports:

“Ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3, there could be a battle in the Windy City for starting pitching. Multiple sources tell Yahoo Sports that the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have each shown interest in Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.”

Detmers is a name Cubs fans have seen mentioned many times before as a logical trade target for the team. The 27-year-old lefty has a 3-7 record with a 4.05 ERA for the cellar-dwelling Angels, but his FIP—which is, arguably, a truer measure of how well he’s actually pitching—is 3.27.

Maybe just as important, he’s under team control through the 2028, working with a very affordable contract.

Theoretically, the Cubs might have more urgency in pursuing a pitcher like Detmers, as they are in “win now” mode and staring down the loss of free agent pitchers Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga over the offseason.

The White Sox, still in rebuild mode despite their showing this season, are ahead of the curve and have already “won” 2026. Of course, they’d like to make the playoffs and do well there, but they’re not under the same pressure as the Cubs with their big payroll and veterans headed towards free agency.

Staring down a tough market

Jed Hoyer, Chicago Cubs — Jan 12, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer talks to the media after introducing pitcher Shota Imanaga (not pictured) during a press conference at Loews Chicago Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Angels, though, there’s no certainty when it comes to their seller status and just how much they might be actually selling at the deadline.

Also, per Dorsey:

“The team is just a few weeks into the tenure of interim general manager John Mozeliak, following the firing of Perry Minasian. The belief around the industry is that the Angels will ultimately be sellers, but the extent to which they’ll sell is still unclear.”

From the way things seem to be shaping up, it looks like this trade market ahead of the deadline will be a tight one and a tough one. Expect almost every seller to demand an overpay for quality starting pitching.

The team that lands Detmers will have to give up more than might feel comfortable—and it’s no guarantee that the Cubs or the White Sox would be willing to pay that price.

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