Chicago Cubs: How much will the starting pitching staff make in 2019?

The Chicago Cubs could have one of the top National League pitching staffs in 2019. Is the front office’s decision to sink a ton of cash in the staff smart?

We’re fresh into the offseason and wheels are slowly beginning to turn. Moves are expected to be made but how active will the Chicago Cubs be this winter?

President Theo Epstein will once again have the spotlight as outfielder Bryce Harper searches for a new home. However, the possibility of him signing with the North Siders may be pretty slim depending on how aggressive the Phillies become.

Philadelphia hooked right-hander Jake Arrieta last winter after the Cubs opted to roll with Yu Darvish instead. A move that didn’t necessarily work out in Epstein’s favor as Darvish missed most of the season with an injury.

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Darvish signed a massive six-year, $126 million deal and will be under contract until he is 36 years old. He reeled in a whopping $25 million in his first year with the Cubbies, which was second-most behind southpaw Jon Lester.

After a few adjustments to his salary, Lester made $27.5 million thanks to a $5 million signing bonus that will be added to his yearly pull until the final year of the deal.

Altogether, he’ll make $30 million in signing bonuses that helped sway him into signing with the Cubs prior to the 2015 campaign.