Chicago Cubs’ Starting Pitching Debate – Would you……

Would you sign one of the big free agent pitchers or sign two of the second-tier free agent pitchers?

Early into the offseason, Chicago Cubs’ general manager, Jed Hoyer, said that he will look to add multiple starting pitchers to the organization. Now, that likely means that one will be on the major league level, and another probably in the upper-tier of the minor league ranks.

If the Chicago Cubs were to add one starting pitcher, the obvious choice among Cubs fans, would be either David Price, Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto or Jordan Zimmerman – with more attention on either Price and Greinke.

Both Price and Greinke were finalists for this year’s Cy Young award in their respective divisions. Both pitchers would also cost somewhere north of $150 million, but you also know that you’re getting one of the best pitchers to throw for your team every five days with either one of them.

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But, what if the Cubs decided that the rotation really needed to be shuffled by one more and that they’d go a different route and not sign a pitcher from the top-tier, but sign two from the next group under Price, Greinke, Cueto, and Zimmerman.

Who would or should Chicago look to for their number three and four starters?

Early rumors have former Cub pitcher, Jeff Samardzija with a possible reunion with the North Siders. Even with the off-year that “Shark” had with the White Sox, he is still going to be a coveted free agent pitcher by several teams and can offer a lot to one of those teams. He also had great success with the current Cubs’ pitching coach, Chris Bosio.

One catch that the Chicago Cubs will have to figure out, is Samardzija worth losing a first or second round draft pick for? Considering where the Cubs would be picking in the first round (28 overall), it might not be a terrible move.

Another name that might be quite valuable and would only be a one-year deal is John Lackey. Lackey was a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals pitching staff in the 2015 season (13-10, 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), and what could be another plus for the Cubs – he’s close friends with Jon Lester.

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Maybe the Cubs’ last year catch can help his team reel in another piece to the championship puzzle?

Other names to consider in the second-tier starting pitching would be – Ian Kennedy, Mike Leake, Wei-Yin Chen, Yovani Gallardo, and Scott Kazmir.

The Chicago Cubs could sign any two of those pitchers for less money per year than it would cost for a Price or Greinke, but would the two pitchers equal the impact that Price or Greinke could bring to the Cubs? That is one question that would have to be answered before making that kind of decision.

It also isn’t unlikely if the price is right that the Cubs could pull off a major win and sign one of the big names and maybe a Lackey or Samardzija to a one-year deal.

Only time will tell what the future hold for the Chicago Cubs starting rotation.