Chicago Cubs want asking prices to come down
By Eric Brown
It is no secret by now that the Cubs are scouring the free agent market for a starting pitcher or two to possibly replace Jake Arrieta, who could leave the team for a better offer. Arrieta returning is not off the table. The other two main options are former Dodgers and Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish, and Rays pitcher Alex Cobb. Chicago will likely end up paying for one of these three pitchers at some point, however for now the team is hoping that the asking price will come down according to SiriusXM radio host Jim Bowden.
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In landing one of these big fishes, the Cubs will fortify their hopes of winning the NL Central pennant once again, possibly even a return to the World Series. Darvish and Arrieta will likely be the more expensive ones of the trio. With possible salaries of over $100m/5 years at the least, Chicago will only be able to pay up for one of them.
Despite only being to able to pay one of the Darvish/Arrieta duo, the team should still have plenty of money to spend on Cobb should ownership decide to spend money in order to return to the World Series. Cobb is currently one of the more underrated pitchers in the MLB. With Jim Hickey now on board in Chicago as the pitching coach, and former coach Joe Maddon having already been here, Cobb could reunite with his former coaches in the windy city.
Spending all this money on starting pitching could get tricky down the road, as the Cubs will eventually have to pay all their position players. Of the players on rookie deals, or bargain deals, six of the eight fielder are part of that group.
When it does come time to pay players like Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Javier Baez, and Addison Russell it will not be cheap. These players have led the Cubs to their first World Series in over 100 years, and has made the team the most watchable team during the time with the team.
Chicago has a chance to be the next dynasty in the MLB, and signing one or two starting pitchers could signal that team is willing to do whatever it takes to become that.
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For now, Chicago will have to sit and wait hoping that one of the three pitchers will lower the amount of money they want in a deal. However, the Cubs cannot wait too long or another team will come in and snag their preferred player.