Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team to focus on arms, won’t count on Yu Darvish

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein made two things clear this weekend: he wants pitching depth and isn’t counting on Yu Darvish.

Much has been made of Yu Darvish and his first four months in a Chicago Cubs uniform. He’s amassed just 40 innings, leaving a major void in the team’s rotation. Instead of serving alongside Jon Lester as a staff ace, he’s watched from the bench as he works back from a lengthy arm injury.

Of course, expectations were sky-high when the season began. Darvish was supposed to fill the void left by fan favorite rotation workhouse Jake Arrieta, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies late in the offseason. But Mike Montgomery, not Darvish, has been the heir apparent in the staff – at least through this point.

With less than two weeks left till the non-waiver trade deadline, we know moves are coming down the pipeline. The Oakland Athletics just acquired Mets closer Juerys Familia and, of course, Manny Machado headed to the Dodgers in just the last week.

The Cubs made a move of their own, although it was hardly a big-time trade, acquiring versatile reliever Jesse Chavez from the Texas Rangers. But, based on Theo Epstein’s comments, Chicago isn’t done – and will focus on adding more pitching depth in the coming days and weeks.