Chicago Cubs Rumors: What could have been with David Price

Cubs finish third for Price

The Cubs were coming off a big offseason in which they signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal. After losing in the NLCS to the New York Mets, Theo Epstein knew he was going to spend some money in the offseason. The only question was where? Dexter Fowler left, so the Cubs would need another outfielder. But the pitching was something they needed to address before the season started.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

So the Cubs offered Price a seven-year, $161 million deal–maybe thinking he did want to play for the Cubs? It turned out that was third in line for his services behind the Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. Price would sign for seven-years at $214 million, and the Cubs would spend their money instead on John Lackey (two-years/$32 million) and Jason Heyward (eight-years/$184 million*).

While Heyward earned the title as a “bust” in his first season, Lackey finished 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA, part of that fantastic rotation the Cubs had in 2016. The Cubs rode that all the way to the World Series to play the Cleveland Indians. Just a small note that might have mattered? Price was scorched for five runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched against the Indians in the ALDS in taking a loss in his only game pitched in the series.