Yu Darvish destination number two: Chicago Cubs
The 2016 World Series champions are another team that that could end up signing Darvish. After finishing 2017 by losing to Yu Darvish and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, the Cubs look to make it back to the Fall Classic.
According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs remain in talks with the starter. He also mentioned in the article that Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein addressed the need to add another starter to the rotation.
After the 2017 season, the Cubs lost starter Jake Arrieta to free agency after he declined his qualifying offer. Arrieta, like Darvish, remains unsigned at this point in the offseason. However, it doesn’t look like the Cubs plan to bring Arrieta back to the club in 2018.
Earlier in the offseason, Chicago signed former Colorado Rockies’ starter Tyler Chatwood to a three-year, $38 million deal. With the addition of Chatwood, the Cubs’ rotation also includes Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and Eddie Butler.
Even without adding another starter, the Cubs possess one of the better starting staffs in the NL. But with Epstein wanting to add another starter and the Cubs wanting to get back to the World Series, Darvish could be a pivotal piece to add to this team.
The Cubs also added veteran catcher Chris Gimenez, which could play a factor for Darvish. As David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes, Gimenez and Darvish played together with the Rangers and Gimenez factored in a lot of big moments for the pitcher.
If Cubs can manage to reel in Darvish, they become even more likely to make it to the World Series this coming season.