The Chicago Cubs are 12-9 on the 2023 Major League Baseball season and the team has been surprising with how competitive they have played through their first stretch of games. The surprise for the Cubs this season has been their offense as the team has scored at least 10 runs on six different occasions this season and that already matches the total amount of times they did it in 2022.

The concern entering the season for the Cubs was their bullpen and that concern appears to be stronger than ever. De facto closer Michael Fulmer has struggled to begin the season. Fulmer has allowed 9 runs on 14 hits and 4 walks through 9.1 innings pitched this season. Cubs manager David Ross attempted to put Fulmer in a low-pressure, get-right situation on Sunday against the Dodgers and the veteran gave up another 2 runs while showing a dip in velocity.

Ross told reporters after the game on Sunday that his confidence in Fulmer has not wavered but that did not stop Patrick Mooney of The Athletic from speculating what the need will be for the Cubs at the 2023 Major League Baseball trade deadline.

“The bullpen, though, looks like it will be a priority for Hoyer’s front office if the Cubs stay relevant this summer and become buyers at the trade deadline.”

– Patrick Mooney via The Athletic

The Cubs will find themselves on the opposite end of the deals they have been successful at since the 2021 Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Cubs’ model has proven to be elite in regard to rehabilitating veteran relievers and flipping them for prospects at the trade deadline. The Cubs, if they maintain their early season success, will now be in a position where they will need to offer up a prospect or two in order to stabilize the backend of their bullpen.