AL division leader has eyes on Chicago Cubs prospects

The Chicago Cubs are expected to be active as the MLB Trade Deadline quickly approaches. With just under five days until the deadline, so far it’s been pretty quiet overall.

It’s clear that the Cubs are going to target pitching help both in the rotation and bullpen as that has been their biggest need for weeks now. If they want to catch the Milwaukee Brewers, the pitching is going to have to be better.

While Chicago reportedly won’t be involved in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, they could be drawing some interest from another American League team who is actually leading their own division. And the latest report suggests just that.

Are Texas Rangers targeting Chicago Cubs as a trade partner?

The Cubs are clearly buyers at the MLB Trade Deadline as they look for an October push. However, a team that is showing interest in the Cubs farm system and big league roster is the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers are in first place in the AL West, holding a 2.5 game lead on the Houston Astros. They are expected to be buyers too. But Pat Ragazzo of Athlon Sports wrote on how Texas has had scouts at Cubs minor and major league games:

Among the teams that the Rangers have had scouts on include the following organizations (both MLB teams and minor league systems): Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves.

These teams are all buyers, but could trade from their major league rosters, too. They also have young, controllable pieces that could be moved.

The Rangers probably aren’t going all in terms of being a buyer. But they could be looking for some controllable pieces that they can use for the future. That would help them move on from a player or two.

As Buster Olney reported on Wednesday, the Rangers might have to get creative.

Rival officials report that Texas isn’t in a position to take on money at the deadline, but the Rangers need relief depth as they try to defend their position at the top of the AL West. They’ll look for ways to be creative in trades.

Does Texas have the pitching help that the Cubs need? It’s hard picturing the Rangers moving on from any of their top pitchers at the moment. But stranger things have happened at the trade deadline..

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