Cubs coveted hurler surprisingly traded in new prediction for 2025 season

The Chicago Cubs have one of Major League Baseball’s most impressive pitching rotations on paper, which certainly contributes to the mystery surrounding Chicago’s (so far) failed season.

One of the Cubs’ most reliable starters is Jameson Taillon, who attracted a ton of suitors around the trade deadline. Taillon ultimately stayed put, but his future in Chicago remains uncertain.

The 32-year-old starter is in the second year of his four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs, but a new report indicates that Chicago could be trading Taillon next season.

In an article that listed the one player from each Major League team most likely to be traded next year, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer chose Taillon from the Cubs.

“Though the Cubs apparently never approached Taillon, who has a 10-team no-trade clause, about any possible deals, he was one of the more notable hurlers whose name was making the rounds ahead of the deadline,” Rymer said.

“There would be some sense in putting him back out there this winter. Even with Kyle Hendricks' contract due to expire, they'll have Justin Steele, Shōta Imanaga, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown and top prospect Cade Horton among their rotation options for 2025.”

Entering Friday, Taillon had compiled 86 strikeouts and a 3.25 ERA on the season through 110 2/3 innings pitched.

Could Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer finally pull the trigger on a Taillon deal as Hoyer looks to save his job in the coming months?

Hoyer has been impossible to predict, but one thing is certain about Taillon: he won’t be lacking for interested buyers when the time comes.

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