Chicago Cubs: Epstein getting “creative” to acquire starting pitching

Don’t pre-order your David Price and Zach Greinke jerseys just yet, Chicago Cubs fans. Team president Theo Epstein warns that the Cubs still don’t have enough revenue to be big-time spenders. Instead, he suggests the Cubs will need to get “creative” in addressing their on-field needs this offseason. All this is per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

So let’s dream creatively together, shall we? We know the Cubs biggest need is for starting pitching. The Cubs may yet sign a big name free agent pitcher. But that would still leave them in need of another arm or two to fill out the rotation.

Meanwhile, the Cubs have some depth in their position players, especially in the middle infield. Could it be time to move Javier Baez, Starlin Castro or Arismendy Alcantara?

The Cubs have other movable pieces waiting in the minors. Players like Matt Szczur, Dan Vogelbach, and Christian Villanueva are good-looking prospects but seemed blocked for playing time by the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber.

Could this be the time move some of those blocked prospects?

Who would the Cubs actually trade for? The Cubs would need to find a team with pitchers to move and needs the Cubs could address from their surplus of position players. Fortunately, there are several teams who fit that description.

So let’s have some fun in making some suggestions for the Cubs front office to consider… After all, this is the excitement of hot stove season, isn’t it?

Click on to see some intriguing trade possibilities…