What Should The Chicago Cubs Do Now That The Top Free Agent Starting Pitchers Are Off The Market

The current Chicago Cubs rotation looks like this, Kyle Hendricks, Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley, Alec Mills, and then Justin Steele/Adbert Alzolay. Two new additions this year are Stroman who signed a 3-year, $71M deal, and Miley was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati. Top free-agent starting pitchers, Carlos Rodon, Clayton Kershaw, and Yusei Kikuchi, are all off the market, and if the Chicago Cubs were looking to improve their starting in free agency, who should they look to sign next?

Matthew Boyd To The Chicago Cubs?

Matthew Boyd becomes an interesting option and a cheap option if the Chicago Cubs are looking to flip Miley at the trade deadline, or Boyd can fill in if an injury of some sort happens during the season. Boyd pitched in only 78.2 innings for the Detroit Tigers, but he did have a 3.89 ERA, his K/9 was 7.67, BB/9 was sitting at 2.63, and HR/9 was 1.03. He is still arbitration-eligible and was also non tendered by the Tigers in November. Boyd would be the perfect fit for the Cubs.

Should The Chicago Cubs Be Interested In Zack Grienke?

Zack Grienke to the Cubs would be another filler type, and if they planned on flipping a starter at the deadline, like Grienke. Greinke pitched in 171 innings last year for the Houston Astros, had a WHIP of 1.17, had a 4.16 ERA, his K/9 was 6.32, BB/9 was 1.89, and HR/9 was 1.58. Maybe give Grienke a 1-year deal, see where he's at during the trade deadline, and then flip him to a contender. The Cubs farm system is loaded with starting pitching talent. Caleb Kilian who might make a few starts this year in the majors, DJ Herz, Jordan Wicks, Brailyn Marquez might see the rotation this year or he'll end up in the bullpen, Kohl Franklin, Ryan Jensen, still have Keegan Thompson in the bullpen who would be a spot starter if David Ross decided to go to a 6-man rotation. It's not a need, but if Jed Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins did go out and sign a veteran starter who they can then flip, it'd be Boyd or Grienke.