Chicago Cubs: Will Yu Darvish pursuit spur Brewers, Cardinals to action?

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yu Darvish #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts in the first inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Yu Darvish #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts in the first inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 18: Wade Davis #71 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 18: Wade Davis #71 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Chicago could spur Brewers, Cardinals into action

St. Louis has been connected to Davis throughout most of the offseason in the same vein that Arrieta has been linked to Milwaukee. Both clubs gave the Cubs a run for their money and finished only six (Brewers) and nine (Cardinals) games behind Chicago in 2017.

The Cardinals already made a substantial upgrade, as they acquired Miami Marlins slugger Marcell Ozuna for Sandy Alcantara plus a couple lesser-known prospects. St. Louis President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak has stated over and over again: the Cardinals were making big changes to their team.

They’ve already added to the back end of the bullpen with the addition of Luke Gregerson and figure to be adding more. Davis could very conceivably be the guy St. Louis decides to throw money at this winter, and why wouldn’t they? From 2014-2017, Davis accumulated 7.4 WAR while posting an MLB-best 1.45 ERA.

Apart from the fact that signing Davis means the Cubs can’t re-up with him, the Cardinals would be getting a top-shelf reliever to solidify the ninth inning role.

Brewers need a Lester-like move

And then there’s the Brewers. Milwaukee finished the season just one game shy of the second wild card spot and are looking to add a front-line starter to signal the turning of a corner. Milwaukee has been reportedly in on Arrieta all offseason long.

In a lot of ways, the potential addition of Arrieta reminds me of how the Cubs added Lester three years ago. It was clear the team was ready to take off, but it wasn’t until Lester came on board that Chicago was taken seriously.