Chicago Cubs: Four free agent options to strengthen the starting rotation
The Chicago Cubs have plenty of options to strengthen the backend of their starting rotation in 2021.
If the Chicago Cubs are able to repeat as National League Central Division champions in 2021, they will do so relying heavily on their starting rotation.
Lineup issues and questions aside, Chicago’s rotation was a strength in 2020 and figures to be even more so next season.
Yu Darvish finished second in NL Cy Young voting after going 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 76 innings, Kyle Hendricks also received Cy Young votes with his impressive 2020 campaign which featured a 64/8 K/BB ratio, and rookie Adbert Alzolay showed promise in his six appearances, posting a 2.95 ERA and striking out 29 hitters in 21+ innings.
The Cubs will also look to rely on Alec Mills again who proved to be a reliable backend of the rotation piece, logging just under 6 IP/GS last season.
With the departures of Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, and Tyler Chatwood, tightening up the backend of the rotation will be a focal point of the Chicago Cubs this offseason. Luckily for Chicago, there are plenty of potentially high-upside options the team could look to sign this offseason as much of the expected limited free agent spending resources are allocated to improving the batting order.
Here are four free agent starting pitching options the Chicago Cubs should target.
RHP Jake Odorizzi is a quality rebound candidate for the Chicago Cubs.
With Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman accepting the qualifying offer and removing themselves from the market, the list of top available pitching free agents is pretty slim, meaning the possibility of prices going up for some arms. Former Minnesota Twins starter Jake Odorizzi could be one of those arms.
MLBTradeRumors.com predicts a three-year/$39 million deal for Odorizzi in free agency, which may be a bit much for the Chicago Cubs, but let’s kick off this list with the 30-year-old veteran as a possible target.
Back and abdomen injuries, along with blisters, kept Odorizzi shelved for much of the season, making just four starts for the Twins last season. However, he was worth a combined 6.9 fWAR in his first two seasons in Minnesota, including a 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA season in 2019.
Odorizzi has swing and miss stuff and maintained his velocity bump from 2019 and he’s been relatively healthy across his career. His 2020 season can probably be chalked up as just that…2020. If Chicago wants to be aggressive with solidifying their rotation, Odorizzi would be a great choice.
If healthy, Corey Kluber can give the Chicago Cubs big-game potential.
One of the more intriguing options on the market is two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. The 34-year-old has pitched just 36.2 innings over the last two seasons, resulting in the Texas Rangers declining his $17.5 million club option for 2021 and letting Kluber test the free agent market.
Before going down to injuries, Kluber was pitching his way into Hall of Fame consideration, accumulating 30.4 fWAR between 2014-2018, taking home two Cy Young Awards, multiple MVP votes, and three All-Star appearances.
Now, health is Kluber’s biggest cause for concern, but all reports indicate a normal offseason routine ahead for the free agent and optimism for a rebound in 2021.
The price tag for Corey Kluber will certainly be cheap and fall right into the wheelhouse of the Chicago Cubs and with a rotation full of reliable arms who have little issue in working deep into games, the Cubs wouldn’t have to rely on Kluber piling up the innings next season.
For someone who hasn’t pitched a full season since 2018, a large number of innings will be difficult for Kluber, but if he can give you 15-20 solid outings with the occasional big game and glimpse into his dominant past, he will worth the investment.
Chris Archer can be a rebound option for the Chicago Cubs.
One of the bigger low-cost/high-upside free agent options available this winter is starting pitcher Chris Archer. For teams like the Chicago Cubs who are looking to add to their starting rotation depth without breaking the bank, taking a flier on Archer should be heavily considered.
Previously with the Cubs as a minor leaguer, Archer did not pitch in 2020 after thoracic outlet surgery and recently entered the market after the Pittsburgh Pirates expectedly declined to pick up his option for 2021.
Archer pitched well in his six-plus seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, successfully navigating his way through the American League East. In 179 career games with the Rays, Archer recorded a 3.69 ERA and struck out a hair under 10/9 IP across 1,063 innings, many of those against daunting New York and Boston lineups.
His time in Pittsburgh wasn’t as successful, but he did end the 2019 season on a very high note. In four August starts, Archer recorded a 3.00 ERA, allowed zero home runs, and struck out 27 hitters to just four walks in 18 innings. That could be something to build on, even after missing all of 2020.
TOS surgery isn’t a deathblow to pitchers and all signs point to Chris Archer being ready to go whenever the 2021 season begins. His market could be competitive, but the Chicago Cubs would be smart to make a run for him.
The Chicago Cubs are familiar with Anthony DeSclafani with his time in Cincinnati.
As previously mentioned, there are a number of low-cost free agents the Chicago Cubs could target, like Mike Minor who finished with a strong second-half to 2020, Drew Smyly who made just five starts last season but struck out nearly 38% of hitters, or even someone like Rick Porcello who hasn’t walked more than 6% of hitters in a season since his rookie campaign in 2009.
But what about Anthony DeSclafani, the 30-year-old right-handed pitcher who has spent the last six seasons in the NL Central with the Cincinnati Reds?
MLBTradeRumors.com predicts a one-year/$4 million deal for DeSclafani in free agency, a great price if he can regain his 2019 form.
In 31 starts back in 2019, DeSclafani finished 9-9 with a 3.89 ERA, a career-low 1.20 WHIP, and a career-high 24% strikeout rate. He’s also consistently produced low walk totals and respectable ground ball numbers across his career, including 7% and 43% marks in 2019, respectively.
If the Cubs think they can get that version of DeSclafani, his familiarity pitching in the NL Central and low price tag are positive bonuses. Injuries severely limited his time on the mound in 2020 and could explain his ugly numbers, but as with most things we’ve seen in 2020, we can probably overlook those numbers for the time being.
Next. Three trade destinations for Kris Bryant. dark
Whichever way the Chicago Cubs go to solidify their starting rotation, there are plenty of noteworthy options.