Chicago Cubs: An early look at 2020 free agent pitchers

Chicago Cubs: You want to make a statement? Here you go.

Gerrit Cole is everything the Cubs would want, a fireball-throwing arm in his prime. The three-time All-Star currently leads the majors in in strikeouts (212) as he sports a 2.94 ERA, 3.08 FIP, 1.0 WHIP and a blazing 13.3 K/9. In three of the last four seasons, he hit the 200 inning mark and has a career 3.32 ERA in 182 starts since he debuted with the Pirates in 2013.

If there is a pitching free agent to pay big, it is Gerrit Cole. The numbers speak for themselves and will begin next year at 29 years of age. He has probably four-ish more years of prime pitching left so take that when you can. The Cubs really only have one starter right now (Darvish) that throws mid-to-upper 90s. Velocity is not always the be all end all, but in an era of slugging and strikeouts it is a big more important to have.

What more can be said? Cole in a Cubs uniform would be a dream come true for many fans.

There are two names that were not mentioned, first being Madison Bumgarner and the other being Stephen Strasburg. With Strasburg, it is up to him if he opts out of his deal so he will not be on this list necessarily.

With Bumgarner, the track record says yes he would be amazing, but a guy who is still good but not the same and could command a lot of money is risky. He could still be very good down the road but right now seems like a direction the Cubs will not go in.