The Chicago Cubs likely paid close attention to the Baltimore Orioles' trade for Tampa Bay Rays' starting pitcher Shane Baz. The Orioles, being a team in need of a starting pitcher and instead of turning to the free-agent market, found a cost-controlled option on the trade market. The concern for Chicago is that Baltimore paid a massive price in doing so.
The Orioles sent prospects Slater De Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, and Austin Overn to the Rays, while also kicking in a Competitive Balance Round A pick for good measure. Organizationally, that is two top-10 prospects, one top-20 prospect, and a top-30 prospect for a pitcher in Baz who arrives with multiple years of control but is far from a finished product.