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

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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.

Chicago Cubs: Team not panicking over injuries

It hardly comes as a surprise to hear the Cubs are keeping their eyes and ears open on the rumor mill. We’re talking about a team that boasts the best record in the National League – despite really having one of those stretches where they hit their stride.

“You’ re always looking to upgrade,” Theo Epstein said. “When you have a competitive team, no matter how well your pen has pitched, there is always a desire to look around and see if you can tweak it or improve it. You are always cognizant that it is harder to address injuries after July 31.”

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The injury he’s referencing? Closer Brandon Morrow, who’s on the shelf for right biceps inflammation. There are no indications this will be a long-term issue, but given his injury history and the heavy workload Cubs relievers have carried, adding depth to lessen the burden makes a lot of sense.

Morrow, for what it’s worth, has been lights-out in his first season as a big league closer. He carries a 1.4 WAR, 1.47 ERA and 296 ERA+ in 30 appearances this year. Essentially, when Joe Maddon gives the right-hander the ball, it’s game over for opponents.

But the injury isn’t guiding Epstein’s hand on the tiller as the deadline nears. Again, this is a guy who’s made a name as one of the best front office executives. More importantly, one who doesn’t make reactionary moves.

“I don’t think the Morrow injury fundamentally changes how we look at things,” Epstein said. “Chavez filled a real need for us being a multiple-inning versatile pitcher who throws a lot of strikes and can execute a game plan. He can do a lot of things and is a real stabilizer and lifts the floor of our pitching staff quite a bit. Yes, we are certainly looking for ways to improve it.”

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Internal, external options are on the table

In hopes of helping shore up the pitching staff for a final stretch run toward October, the Cubs aren’t dismissing anything out of hand. While much has been made of Yu Darvish’s lack of production since signing with Chicago, another offseason addition may have a key role to play.

The Cubs brought in lefty Drew Smyly last winter as he worked back from Tommy John surgery. At the time, the team viewed anything they could get from him this season to be ‘gravy’. Now, it appears as if the gravy train may be making a stop at Wrigley Field before the season’s over.

“He can conceivably start, go back to the bullpen, he could be in a hybrid role,” Epstein said. “It just seems to make a lot of sense.”

But, again, Epstein isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket. The Cubs are heavily involved in a pursuit for former standout Orioles closer Zach Britton, as well. Adding someone like that to the mix could, conceivably, give Chicago one of the most shutdown pens in the game.

Of course, that assumption is predicated upon the belief that Britton can get back to what he was just a few short seasons ago. His metrics suggest he’s not that guy anymore – but, given a depleted Cubs farm system – he may be more affordable given those circumstances.

What does all this tell us? Anything can happen in the next week-plus. But when the calendar flips to August, the pitching staff will likely look different.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Theo isn’t betting on big things from Darvish

I have to give Theo a lot of credit here. Despite banking his offseason on Yu Darvish, he’s not about to gamble the success of this year’s team on the big right-hander.

“Just making an educated guess,” Epstein said. “You can’t be overly reliant on someone who hasn’t been able to go out there and perform this year. At the same time, you do track the rehab closely. You try to figure out what he may be able to do because for a long time, he felt really well. However, if you put yourself in a position where you are overly reliant and defending on it at this point, it is on you then — the fates.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck? It’s probably a duck. Darvish has. performed poorly, has missed two full months on this current DL stint alone and, at this point, is the biggest question mark on the Chicago roster.

The Cubs would be better trotting out Mike Montgomery or Jose Quintana in a postseason series right now than hoping for Darvish to pitch like he did as an opponent last fall against his current team. You don’t know what you’re going to get anymore – and Epstein knows this team has too much talent to bet it on his return.

Next: A deGrom trade would decimate the team's depth

If Darvish can come back and be what we all expected, then any moves Epstein makes in coming days and weeks only look better. You can never have too much pitching – and, thankfully, this seems to be the modus operandi the front office is operating on.

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