Chicago Cubs: Top three realistic free agent acquisitions this offseason

After missing the postseason for the first time in five years, the Chicago Cubs will likely look to free agency to help bolster their flawed roster.

As we speak, the postseason is and has been underway with the 2019 World Series is right around the corner. Unfortunately, the Chicago Cubs came so close, yet so far from finding themselves once again in the thick of postseason madness.

After playing in October annually since 2015, when a young, exciting team blossomed under then-first-year manager Joe Maddon, Chicago suffered an epic late-season collapse this year. The club won just 84 games in the regular season – with that being said, changes need to be made.

Moving on from Maddon marked just the first of what will likely be several major changes coming this winter. In their search for a new manager, the Cubs are looking for someone who can both assume a leadership role among the players and ultimately lead them to the postseason. With this idea in mind, this manager also needs the tools to get the job done – a balanced, well-constructed roster. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest holes that needs filling is pitching, and the outfield.

Thankfully, free agency is almost upon us. Beginning five days after the conclusion of the World Series, this year’s free agent class should be one to remember. With several big-name players entering free agency such as Geritt Cole and Anthony Rendon headlining free agency, it should be interesting to see where these superstars end up.

While adding Cole would be a huge upgrade to the pitching rotation, it simply isn’t realistic. The Cubs are still suffering from outrageously big contracts such as that of Jon Lester and Yu Darvish. They aren’t in the right financial circumstances to make such a signing.

WIth that being said, Zack Wheeler and Madison Bumgarner are contenders that would fit the Cubs’ needs while bolstering their roster and Howie Kendrick would address several of their remaining shortcomings.

Chicago Cubs: Low-cost and effective, this guy makes a ton of sense

Right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler would bring a new, younger perspective to a struggling Cubs pitching staff. Though Wheeler missed both 2015 and 2016 due to Tommy John surgery, the New York starter came back in 2017 and had to work hard to get back to where he left off with the Mets. In 2017, Wheeler posted a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts which signaled that more work needed to be done.

It wasn’t until the second half of 2018 that Wheeler began to show improvement. In the first half of the season, Wheeler posted a 4.44 ERA going 3-6 in 18 starts. While his ERA was lower than the year prior, it still wasn’t back to where Wheeler should’ve been.

However, in the second half of 2018, Wheeler posted a 1.68 ERA, going 9-1 in 11 starts. Needless to say, the Zack Wheeler the Mets knew was in there somewhere came back to life.

In 2019, Wheeler continued to prove the narrative that he was, and is in fact a second half pitcher. In the first half of the season, Wheeler posted a 4.69 ERA going 6-6 in 19 starts. In the second half, the 29-year-old posted a 2.83 ERA in a dozen starts going 5-2.

Over the years, despite Wheeler’s teammate Jacob deGrom grabbing headlines, Wheeler has established himself as one of the most high-upside pitchers in all of baseball. Unlike Cubs starter Yu Darvish, Wheeler is inexpensive and capable of producing better results than Darvish initially did for the team at his high price.

Chicago Cubs: Kendrick showing no signs of slowing down

While he had an amazing 2019 season, many teams will probably refrain from trying to sign Howie Kendrick this free agency. Why? He turns 37 next July and his time in the bigs might be coming to an end very shortly. However, Kendrick offers versatility and a grind that would be hard to find anywhere else.

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In his 2019 season, Kendrick spent most of his time coming off the bench, and primarily playing the infield. Off the bench, Kendrick hit .414 which proved that he could come in clutch, and hustled when needed. Even when he saw regular playing time, Kendrick kept his average high. On the year, the 36-year old veteran hit .344 boosting an already powerful Nationals offense.

Not only did he produce offensively, but Kendrick produced defensively. Throughout 2019, he played first base, second base, third base and the outfield. This kind of versatility is key for any team to win games. In the Cubs case, if they end up parting ways with Ben Zobrist, which seems to be likely, Kendrick would be able to fill that whole in the roster.

Even with his presence in the regular season, nobody would have imagined the impact he would make in the postseason. On Monday night against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, Kendrick went 3-for-4. He had three doubles and three RBIs which helped lead the team to victory. Now, the Nationals are one win away from their first World Series ever.

Kendrick is a career .294 hitter, yet hit a career-high .344 in 2019 despite his age. Regardless of what others might think, I think there is still a spark in him and that spark would greatly benefit the Cubs.