No Cole But Cubs Looking At Next Tier Of Free Agents To Add To Starting Rotation

The Cubs should go after Gerrit Cole, there's no real excuse not to, but, whatever, you know the deal.

Anyway, after a disappointing 84-win season, finishing third in the division and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the Cubs seem to actually be committed to change this offseason.

So far the Cubs have brought in a new manager, replaced half the coaching staff, shuffled things up in their player development department, hired a new scouting director and are changing everything to their training staff. Oh and changes are coming to the roster too.

Trade rumors surrounding Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras have dominated headlines early on this offseason, but the Cubs will have to be blown away to actually make a deal involving one of those two. It's unlikely. What the Cubs will do no matter is add pitching and although the main focus is fixing the bullpen, the front office needs to address the starting rotation as well.

Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish, Jon Lester and Jose Quintana are penciled into the Cubs rotation for 2020, while Quintana remains a possible trade asset. Tyler Chatwood, Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay are the first three pitchers available as depth with a few more righties waiting for an opportunity in Colin Rea, Cory Abbott and Tyson Miller.

Yet, things in the rotation begin to have more question marks beyond 2020. Again, Quintana might get traded this winter but after him Lester and Chatwood will be free agents next offseason.

So, don't be surprised if the Cubs add one starter from this free agent class.

Via MLB.com.

• Even if the Cubs are not a player for a blockbuster free-agent starter like Gerrit Cole, Epstein said there could be an opportunity to add to the rotation via the next tier of the free-agent pitching class.
"The depth and volume of qualified Major League starters is normally a scarcity," Epstein said. "This year, there's quite a few."

So, taking a look at the free agent list of starting pitchers, you can narrow down the Cubs' interest a bit. In a perfect world they'd be in on Cole or Stephen Strasburg, obviously they won't be. You can also take out Zack Wheeler, Jake Odorizzi and Madison Bumgarner, who all received qualifying offers and would cost the Cubs a draft pick.

Here are the starting pitchers left in the next tier.

• Dallas Keuchel
• Hyun-Jin Ryu
• Kyle Gibson
• Cole Hamels
• Michael Pineda
• Tanner Roark
• Julio Teherán
  
• Rick Porcello
• Wade Miley
• Josh Lindblom
• Gio Gonzalez
• Jordan Lyles
• Homer Bailey

In their annual free agent predictions, MLB Trade Rumors had the Cubs signing Kyle Gibson to a two-year, $18 million deal.

If the Cubs do end up signing a free agent starter, don't expect them to commit more than three years in a contract.