Chicago Cubs: A back-end starter won’t cut it this time around

With free agency moving at a snail’s pace, the Chicago Cubs can – and should – remain patient. They can no longer settle for lesser acquisitions.

With the New York Mets’ reported signing of free agent third baseman Todd Frazier on Monday, everyone – including the Chicago Cubs – can hope a thaw is coming. We’re not talking about temperatures, either. Free agency continues to proceed slower than ever, leaving almost every big-name free agent on the market in the first week of February.

As for Chicago, they still need one more starting pitcher. Sure, Mike Montgomery could fill that void. At certain points this offseason, I actually felt like that may be a more prudent option. We know guys like Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta are likely seeking nine-figure deals. With a historic free agent class on the horizon at season’s end, teams are hoarding money like never before in attempts to sneak under the luxury tax threshold.

But I am no longer of that mindset. Allowing someone like Montgomery to round out the rotation isn’t an answer. It’s a cop-out. As would be a low-end signing such as Chris Tillman. Nothing against either guy, but we’re past the point of depending on reclamation projects and converted arms.

Chicago is seeking an unprecedented fourth-straight NLCS appearance in 2018. To achieve that goal, the Cubs will likely have to go head-to-head with the Los Angeles Dodgers or Washington Nationals. Whichever one they don’t meet in the Division Series seems probable to be waiting in the LCS.

And, simply put, without another impact starter, the Cubs enter such matchups at a disadvantage – at least in terms of starting pitching.