This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/cubs as Cubs Should Pursue Athletics Star Pitcher Who Is Now on Trade Block. Adding a starting pitcher is a must for the Chicago Cubs. With Justin Steele out of the mix for the rest of the season, their already-thin rotation has been pushed to the limit during the past couple of months.

CHICAGO — All along, the Chicago Cubs expected to add more pitching by the July 31 trade deadline and reinforce their first-place team for a playoff run. But now that Jameson Taillon is sidelined with a strained right calf muscle, a flexible plan is even more imperative.

The veteran right-hander strained his right calf while running Thursday, casting an even brighter spotlight on what Jed Hoyer's front office can do to bolster the rotation ahead of the trade deadline.