Cubs-Twins trade idea confirms Jed Hoyer is hell-bent on winning World Series

Cubs-Twins trade idea confirms Jed Hoyer is hell-bent on winning World Series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs have dealt with a frenzy of injuries to their starting rotation.

Still, they have the second-best record (27-14) in the Majors, trailing only the Atlanta Braves.

FanSided's Robert Murray believes that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will be aggressive at the trade deadline, focused on adding another arm or two to the rotation.

The rotation is without Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Matthew Boyd. All three are key pieces, with Horton being the only one who will not return to the mound this year. But what if the Cubs gave the Minnesota Twins a call?

"This would require a big swing, with plenty of prospect capital going to Minnesota, and I’m skeptical that Hoyer would make a move of this magnitude after trading Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins for [Edward] Cabrera," Murray wrote about the potential of a Cubs-Twins trade that sends All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan to Chicago.

Ryan is striking out 9.1 batters per nine innings and owns a 3.43 ERA through his first nine starts. There were plenty of trade rumors surrounding him at last year's deadline.

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"Ryan, 29, dodged a bullet after a right elbow scare and returned to throw a season-high 107 pitches last week," Murray added. "He’s one of the most dependable right-handed arms in baseball and was a popular target at last season’s deadline, with the Boston Red Sox among teams to show interest. And with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts, he should be popular once again this summer."

A pitcher like Ryan is what the Cubs need—a dependable arm who takes the ball every fifth day. Having him in the postseason rotation could help them dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers.