Chicago Cubs Rumors: Starting pitching a need, but an ace isn’t

The inconsistencies of the Chicago Cubs starting rotation continually stole headlines this season. Does the team need a big addition ahead of the deadline?

Apart from Jon Lester, the Chicago Cubs‘ starting pitching staff has been inconsistent. We all know this. Yu Darvish made only eight starts this season after inking a massive free agent contract this winter. Jose Quintana and Kyle Hendricks have been back-and-forth, up-and-down.

With such struggles, it stands to reason: will the Cubs make a splash for a third-straight summer? Potentially. But falling into the Jacob deGrom hype may be ill-advised. Landing such a coveted arm wouldn’t come cheap.

And, more than anything, the Cubs just need the guys they already boast to start pulling their weight. If they do opt to make a trade, a mid-level or back end starter makes a lot more sense given Chicago’s current composition.

Chicago Cubs: Rotation boasts tremendous talent, depth

It only makes sense to start with the Cubs’ ace. Jon Lester is 11-2 with a sparkling 2.45 ERA in his 18 starts. A two-time 19-game winner, could this be the year he finally cracks the 20-win plateau?

Sure, wins are quickly becoming an antiquated way of evaluating starting pitchers, but for a veteran like Lester, a 20-win season still means a lot. Especially at 34 years of age. After a tough 2017 showing, many thought he was quickly headed down the back nine of his career. Instead, he’s rebounded with his fifth All-Star selection.

The “Professor,” Kyle Hendricks might need to go back school and rewrite his dissertation or doctoral thesis. Hendricks finds himself at 5-8 with a 3.93 ERA in 18 outings. Thankfully, he comes off his best start in well over a year. That gives him plenty to work off in his final first-half start.

It seems like teams are starting to figure out his plan of attack, so with that thought in mind it will be up to Hendricks and pitching coach Jim Hickey to find a way to re-write his textbook, but for a guy who doesn’t overpower hitters that might be easier said than done.

Chicago Cubs: Do they really need a starter?

With the struggles of Chatwood and injury concerns of Darvish is adding a starting pitcher before the trade deadline might not be the worst idea in the world.

I want Jacob DeGrom, Zack Wheeler, or Nathan Eovaldi, but thinking like that will just lead to disappointment.

We don’t need a ‘big’ name

Think about it, the Cubs have their “ace” in Jon Lester and a decent two in Kyle Hendricks.  If Yu Darvish returns to half the capability of his talent then two and three spots are set, and “Q” continues to be consistent then the one through four spots are set.

With that in mind, the only spot that needs filling would be the number five spot is the single slot that needs filling. Would be the fifth starter. And Wheeler, deGrom and Eovaldi aren’t fifth starters. Plus those Rays and Mets are going to want large price tags in return.

Likelier targets include…

My colleague Alex Patt looked into some possible targets  For me, I think the most logical fit is J.A. Happ of the Blue Jays.

He would come at a very reasonable price tag too. There have been reports recently that have suggested that the Jays are intrigued by infielder David Bote and right-hander Jen-Ho Tseng. 

Even though It would be tough to part with Bote, it might be worth it to add another arm to satisfy the rotation. To be 100% honest I think the Cubs will stand pat at the trade deadline.

Next: ICYMI: Chatwood's latest outing yet another blunder

The Cubs are running low on minor league talent, and the prices for decent starting pitching is skyrocketing, and I would be somewhat surprised if they pulled the trigger on a deal before 3 p.m. CST on July 31.