Chicago Cubs: Looking at the Cubs fifth starter — right now

I know what you’re thinking.

Playing it safe in a championship window, when you’re in one of baseball’s biggest markets, and all the while, basically not constrained by any sort of spending limit, probably isn’t the way to go about this. Even with a flawed group of free agents and their associated risks.

Planning for the alternative

Well. Again, it is February. Pitchers and catchers report in mere days, and here we are. The rotation is not bad as currently constructed. I’ve personally spent time mulling each starter, their potential, and how dangerous each can be.

Kyle Hendricks is pretty good. That’s an understatement. In my mind, he’s your ace and opening day starter, regardless of who they might acquire, short of, say, Clayton Kershaw (he can opt-out and become a free agent after 2018 by the way). Jose Quintana is a budding ace, who could emerge into that this season. And then the veteran, Jon Lester, a warrior that has the determination to prove he still among the best pitchers.

That’s a solid 1-through-3.

Tyler Chatwood represents the largest free agent contract — three-years, $38 million — for a starting pitcher. Crazy, huh? Probably a perfect five, but right now, he is the four. And that would leave someone else as that fifth starter. It could be a few candidates, but Mike Montgomery would be one guy that has the potential to win that job if he is not the clear-cut alternative before camp breaks.

Again, this is hypothetical in that no one else is brought in.

Put up or shut up?

Back in December, Montgomery expressed his desire to start. It’s understandable that he might prefer to start, rather than appear out of the bullpen, filling out that important and underrated swing-man, sixth starter role. As it pertains to providing reliable innings in relief, and spot starting when the need arises, he’s among the best you can think of.

If Montgomery is in the rotation, the Cubs would have to reconsider who can adequately fill that sixth-man role. Maybe Jen-Ho Tseng gets that opportunity.

If there’s one word you can think of to describe the Cubs and their roster, it’s that they are flexible. Multiple players can play multiple positions — a manager’s dream — and though some players might enjoy it, it’s likely each player really, really likes one position. Their comfort spot.

Imagine a full season?

As a starting pitcher, in scratching the surface, Montgomery was about what you would hope for from a fill-in:

5-5, 4.15 ERA, 1.14 WHIP over 14 starts, 69 1/3 innings in 2017

As a starter for his career:

10-12, 4.20 ERA, 1.28 WHIP over 37 starts, 195 innings

His longest start of 2017 was also one of his best starts. In seven innings against the Pirates, he allowed just one run on six hits. If Montgomery knew he was going to be a starter, only, and could stretch his arm out well in advance like during spring training, that would only help him for the role.

Now.

If Montgomery did crack the rotation to start the season, I would consider it a still temporary move. Unless he just takes off. But might the Cubs then have to reconsider a trade for someone such as Chris Archer?

Next: It’s time to take a look at Lance Lynn

The inevitable — or so we may have thought before now — trading of a player off the ML roster might have to be the price to acquire a proven starter.

But that’s a different predicament for another day.

According to Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales not long ago, Joe Maddon said, “(Montgomery) is in the mix for one of the five (spots). If we acquire another (starter), he’ll be one of the six.”

Interesting, isn’t it?