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.
More from Chicago Cubs News
- Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
- Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
- Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
- Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
- Cubs might start to limit Justin Steele’s workload soon
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.
Chicago Cubs: More figures to chew on
While we’re discussing salaries within the starting rotation, let’s take a look at who will be making what in 2019. For Darvish, he’s set to cash in on $20 million while Lester’s base sits at around $22 million, with the $5 million bumping it to $27.5 million, again.
So, between the two, that adds up to $47.5 million and we’re not even through the next three yet. Southpaw Cole Hamels enters the final year of a contract he signed as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies just five years ago.
Hamels, 34, had his $20 million option picked up by the Cubs. In an effort to save payroll and dampen the blow of a third $20 million-plus annual contract in the rotation, Chicago shipped Drew Smyly to the Rangers earlier this offseason. Of course, Hamels was great in his second-half stint with the Cubs, twirling an ERA of 2.36 in 12 starts as a member of the North Siders.
Having him back in this starting rotation with a healthy and hopefully, stacked bullpen, could bring this organization another division title.
Chicago Cubs: Rising salaries are on the horizon
Now, as for the two starters under the age of 30, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana will make the least out of the five. Hendricks enters his second year of arbitration as he signed a one-year deal last season, making $4.175 million. That number will undoubtedly see a bump in 2019 and could be anywhere from $7 to $8 million.
More from Cubbies Crib
- Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
- Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
- Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
- Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
- Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
Either way, it’ll be less than what Quintana will make in his third year with the Cubs. The left-hander, 29, was halfway through his five-year deal he had signed with the White Sox when he was acquired by the good guys.
In 2014, he earned a little under a million and will see his $8.85 million quickly become $10.5 million. It’ll remain the same in 2020 in which the club holds a $1 million buyout option.
He’ll become an unrestricted free agent at the age of 32 but could end up staying with the Cubs beyond that if a deal is worked out. Right now, there’s no concern nor worry in regards to his future with the club since the team has some time to make a decision on what they’ll want to do.
In all, this starting rotation is set to make serious bank entering the new campaign. Remember, this doesn’t include Tyler Chatwood or Mike Montgomery‘s salary as they provide Joe Maddon with occasional spot starts.
Hopefully, the Cubs will have some of their top starting pitching prospects making their big league debut in the semi-near future. Spending money on pitching is fine and all but there’s nothing better than homegrown talent.