Chicago Cubs: 4 questions that need answers this offseason

The Cubs have many options to fill out the rotation, but who will ultimately get the job of rounding out the starting group?

While the offense was struggling down the stretch, the Cubs’ pitching was stepping up to carry the team. The Cubs’ 3.65 ERA after the All-Star break was the third best of all major league clubs.

The top four spots in the Cubs’ starting rotation are all but certain. Lester, Darvish, Jose Quintana, and Kyle Hendricks – barring injuries – will be the foundation of the rotation. Despite some struggles at times in 2018, that’s a great top four.

That leaves one spot to be determined, and there are already four players gunning for that final starting job.

Trade deadline acquisition Cole Hamels has a 2019 team option that the Cubs may be interested in picking up. In his end of season press conference, Epstein expressed interest in keeping Hamels around next year.

The four-time All-Star was a game changer in his time with the Cubs, starting 12 games and posting a 3.42 ERA. However, if the front office wants to keep him around, they’ll have to pony up $20 million. It’s a big amount, but it’s only a one-year commitment, so it’s not a huge risk for the team.

Another option for the rotation is Mike Montgomery. He’s started each of the last two years in the bullpen but has worked his way into the rotation at points during each season. In his 33 starts over the last two years, he’s pitched well and compiled a 3.88 ERA in those games.

Montgomery strongly expressed his interest in being a starting pitcher before the 2018 season started, and this may be his best chance to grab hold of a more permanent role in the Cubs’ rotation. He may be the best internal candidate, but his value as a swingman out of the bullpen may prevent him from getting the job.

Some fans may not be aware, but the Cubs’ had a great candidate for the rotation in-house throughout 2018, but he was sidelined while he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Drew Smyly signed a two-year deal with the North Siders prior to last season and should be healthy for Spring Training in 2019.

Smyly hasn’t pitched at the big league level since 2016, so he’ll have to prove he still has what it takes to hold a spot in an MLB rotation. In his 85 career starts, Smyly has been pretty good, pitching to a 3.97 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. They’re not elite numbers, but many teams have much worse options for a fifth starter.

The final option for the rotation may be one that Cubs fans would like to forget. After an awful 2018 campaign, Tyler Chatwood will be on a very short leash in 2019.

In 96 innings as a starter this year, Chatwood had a 5.16 ERA and had the worst walk rate of all starters with at least 80 innings pitched. His 19.6 percent walk rate was far and away the worst. Robbie Ray and his 13.3 percent walk rate came in a distant second place to Chatwood’s almost unbelievable number.

In almost all cases, a pitcher with Chatwood’s numbers wouldn’t get another chance, but the Cubs owe him $26 million over the next two years, so he’ll likely get an opportunity to work out his kinks this offseason.

If none of those four satisfy the Cubs’ front office, the team may look to add a controllable starter through a trade of one of their young hitters or by yet another starting pitching signing in free agency.