Chicago Cubs Rumors: Breaking down possible pitching options

While most Chicago Cubs fans are hoping for a big move ahead of this month’s July 31 trade deadline, a more realistic line of thinking has the club making a major splash this offseason.

For more than a year, rumors have linked Theo Epstein’s team to left-hander Cole Hamels, who appears to be on his way out of Philadelphia, with that organization in dire need of a complete rebuild.

However, there are more than a few quality options available this offseason, ranging from the likes of David Price, who pitched under current Cubs skipper Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay to Zack Greinke, who seems likely to opt out of his contract with the Dodgers.

Assuming the team only makes minor or moderate moves this summer, here’s a look at five potential signings the Chicago Cubs could make ahead of the 2016 campaign.

Jun 8, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starter

(27) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Zimmermann – Washington Nationals

In the final year of a two-year, $24 million deal, the Washington right-hander has pitched to a 3.04 ERA and 3.01 FIP in his 17 starts. While most of the attention in D.C. has been focused on ace Max Scherzer, Zimmermann has quietly been putting together another solid season.

In each of the past three seasons, he has notched at least 190 innings – and is easily on-pace to hit that mark again in 2015. That alone is reason enough for Chicago to make a run at the righty, given their lack of inning-eating arms.

Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel have done their parts this season, averaging a cumulative 6 1/3 innings per start – but from there, the rotation has been a hodgepodge of arms, including Travis Wood, Donn Roach and Tsuyoshi Wada – to name a few.

At just 29 years old, Zimmermann would slot in nicely between Lester and Arrieta at the top of the Chicago Cubs rotation. You could give him five – or even six – years on a deal with some level of certainty moving forward, thus solidifying the starting rotation while the team’s young studs remain under team control.

Next: David Price

Mar 16, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

David Price – Detroit Tigers

The biggest reason Price remains a likely target of the Chicago Cubs is his relationship to Joe Maddon.

Maddon managed Price down in Tampa Bay as skipper of the Rays and knows exactly what he would be getting in the left-hander. I wouldn’t consider this to be such a major factor if not for the Cubs’ signing of Jon Lester this past offseason.

Clearly, familiarity is something this front office values – and Maddon’s ties to Price should only further their cause this offseason.

For Detroit this season, the southpaw ranks ninth in Major League Baseball with a 2.54 ERA and is tied for fourth in wins with nine. Not only has he been effective this season, but he’s done so over a large body of work, already racking up 125 innings this year.

Price turns 30 in May, so, again, age isn’t a major concern with this deal. That being said, he’s pitched less than 200 innings just once since 2010, so a heavy workload could lead to arm issues down the road.

Aug 7, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (35) walks off the field after pitching the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies

Of all the trade rumors swirling, Cole Hamels to the Chicago Cubs seems to be the most prevalent.

Of course, recently the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as the front-runners for the Phillies’ left-hander’s services, which complicates the Cubs’ rumored pursuit.

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The appeal of adding Hamels this season (prior to the deadline) is that he’s under a deal for $90 million for the next half-decade, which is far cheaper than many of the upcoming free agent arms are slated to go for.

This season, the Phillies left-hander has pitched to a 3.02 earned run average. Although he’s seemingly fallen to the wayside while people focus on the up-and-coming pitching talent in the National League East, over the past five years, he’s posted a 2.99 ERA – to go along with a 3.19 FIP and 3.87 SO/BB ratio.

He would change the make-up of the Cubs’ rotation in a way few others could. That being said, it’s hard to imagine Theo and Jed making such a splash this summer when the offseason crop of arms is so deep.

Next: Hendricks extends scoreless streak as Cubs fall