It may be too little, too late for the Chicago Cubs.
After watching Jon Lester sign elsewhere, and after trading Yu Darvish to the Padres, ownership has finally found some extra money to be spent in free agency. The front office is now looking to spend that money to shore up a rotation that has been decidedly weakened due to a previous lack of funds.
At least the Chicago Cubs have options
This newfound cash is not going to be enough for the Cubs to land Trevor Bauer. However, there are still plenty of starting pitchers available that could fit within their budget. None of these names are overly exciting, and they can be best considered reclamation projects, but they could provide a decent enough return on investment. As the NL Central is still reasonably wide open, landing the right starting pitcher could make a major difference.
Let’s take a look at three options for the Chicago Cubs as they look to shore up their rotation.
Jake Arrieta
Jake Arrieta had his greatest run of success in the majors during his time with the Chicago Cubs. A mediocre pitcher during his time in Baltimore, he immediately became a top of the rotation arm in Chicago, dominating the NL en route to an All Star Game appearance and the 2015 Cy Young.
He is not that pitcher any longer. Injuries helped torpedo his 2020 campaign, but he was a disappointment during his time in Philadelphia. Arrieta posted a 5.08 ERA and a 1.511 WHiP in his 44.1 innings last year, striking out 32 batters with 16 walks.
But there is still the possibility that, if healthy, he can bounce back with one more solid season. The Cubs would be looking to have him shore up the back of the rotation, a veteran arm in what will be a mostly unproven cast.
The Chicago Cubs would not be looking for Jake Arrieta to replicate his performance from his first trek through the city. But if he can be a league average arm once again, they would certainly take that production.