MLB trade rumors: Cubs still pursuing Athletics’ Sonny Gray

The Cubs are still pursuing Athletics starter Sonny Gray even after acquiring Jose Quintana, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi.

Chicago entered trade season with a large need in the rotation, though many believed they’d be done shopping after sending four prospects to the White Sox for Quintana on Thursday. The club currently has Jake Arrieta, Quintana and Jon Lester as locks in t the rotation mix, with Eddie Butler and Mike Montgomery filling in while John Lackey, Kyle Hendricks and Brett Anderson are injured. Arrieta and Lackey are both free agents after the season, so the Cubs could look to add Gray as a controllable option for the future.

With Quintana off the board, Gray is the top available starter left on the market. He has been linked to many clubs, including the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers and Brewers, so the Cubs could be looking to get involved in an attempt to increase Milwaukee’s price.

If Chicago does swing a deal for Gray, the club will likely have to part with a big-league position player like Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Ian Happ or Kyle Schwarber due to the shallow farm system that was further gutted by the trade of Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to the ChiSox.

Gray, 27, is under club control for two more seasons after this one. He owns a 4-4 record and 4.00 ERA in 13 starts this year.