Chicago Cubs: Looking at internal options to round out the rotation

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The Chicago Cubs have a long to-do list this winter and that includes rounding out a starting rotation that lost Cole Hamels in free agency.

Cubs president Theo Epstein said at the GM meetings that his team is going to be mindful of their rotational situation given that they only have team control over three starters – Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester (depending on how his option plays out) – through 2021.

However, there is also the possibility that Epstein and the front office will focus on improving other areas of the team, such as acquiring hitters with a plus contact rate, finding an option in center field and adding to the bullpen.

The Cubs currently have four starters, with Cole Hamels unlikely to be re-signed in free agency. If they do not dive into that market in the next few months, who might be the guy(s) that will fill that final spot in the rotation?

Chicago Cubs: Looking for internal solutions

A few guys on the current roster have starting experience.

Tyler Chatwood had a brutal introduction to the Cubs rotation in 2018, but he bounced back with a strong 2019 in which he also made a few spot starts.

There is no question about Chatwood’s stuff. Opponents barreled up the ball at under a three percent clip against the right-hander, which ranked in the top two percent of the league according to Baseball Savant. He can move the fastball in multiple directions, and he had a very tangible uptick in velocity and spin rate in 2019.

Can he continue to attack hitters? Chatwood slashed his walk rate considerably, but a 4.3 BB/9 is still not an ideal number if the Cubs elect to move him back into the rotation.

Alec Mills is another name to watch. Mills posted a 10.5 K/9 in 36 innings of work last season despite a lack of velocity. He has success peppering in breaking balls with a hard-biting sinker that he uses against both right- and left-handers.

The Cubs trusted Mills to make a start in the middle of a pennant race (against the Cardinals on Sept. 20), so it is hard to question his mental toughness. Will he be able to eat enough innings to warrant numerous starts in 2020?

Chatwood and Mills are the most immediate options, but Chicago’s brain trust might also like to see some of their young talent come through the ranks.

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Picking from the farm

Adbert Alzolay also had some starting experience last season. The 24-year-old scattered two hits and two runs across his first 8 2/3 innings of work before getting clobbered against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the start of July.

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Alzolay struggled to regain his form at Triple-A Iowa, and also missed some time due to another injury. He is undoubtedly part of the future in the rotation, but is Alzolay the best starting option after such an up-and-down season?

The Cubs will probably elect to keep Alzolay in Triple-A at the start of the 2020 season with the hopes that he can build some momentum and make a case for the fifth spot or even a bullpen role.

Left-handed prospect Brailyn Marquez, on the other hand, could make his way through the pipeline in a hurry. Marquez was Chicago’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2019, and he dominated in five starts at High-A Myrtle Beach, posting a 1.71 ERA in 26 1/3 innings of work.

The 20-year-old is likely to start the 2020 season in Double-A, but Marquez might earn a call-up if he excels from the jump.

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Chicago might look to take the “committee” approach with respect to the fifth spot in the rotation, but they do have some internal options if they fail to add a starter this winter.

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