Chicago Cubs: These free agent targets make most sense for team this winter

Chicago Cubs could again take a former Cardinals piece

Jake Arrieta figures to command a deal well-north of $100 million this offseason. Take into account guys like Johnny Cueto and Masahiro Tanaka both opted in to the remaining years on the current deal and that price will only rise.

So instead of five or six years with a total value in the nine-figure range, why not add a middle-of-the-rotation piece like Lance Lynn?

Chicago Cubs

Projected for a four-year deal in the $56 million range, the right-hander could be just what the Cubs need. Remember, Chicago already features a very respectable three-starter mix of Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and Jose Quintana heading into 2018. Lynn could slot in behind them in the four-spot with no expectations other than eat innings and keep the team in the ballgame.

Last season marked his sixth-straight campaign of a sub-4.00 earned run average, making more than 30 starts yet again. He missed the 2016 campaign with Tommy John surgery, but came back and did what he always does for the Redbirds in 2017. If you can maintain that for the next four years and provide stability in the back of the Cubs’ rotation, I’d be more than satisfied.

Really what this comes down to for me is this: Chicago doesn’t need another ace. I strongly believe in Hendricks to fill that role moving forward. Let’s spread out the money you’d give to an ace-type arm and spread it out to address the team’s other needs.