Cubs: 3 big money free agents the team should be in on this winter

Cubs need to solidify the starting rotation – starting with Marcus Stroman

The Chicago starting rotation – Jake Arrieta aside – has been downright awful this year. We knew there was a possibility this could happen and, while it’s very early in the year, it’s clear this isn’t a staff capable of carrying a team deep into October.

That’s where Marcus Stroman comes in this winter. The Mets right-hander has been lights-out in the Big Apple this season, making three starts and working to a 0.90 ERA. His strikeout numbers are way down, but so are his walk and hit rates – which has led to his early success.

There’s been speculation over Stroman and the Cubs for a few years now, but since he’s just 30, he could be a perfect fit for Chicago in the coming years. The team has Kyle Hendricks locked up for a few more years, but after that, the entire starting rotation (with the exception of Adbert Alzolay) is on one-year deals.

Hoyer told ESPN 1000 this week that big spending will be back ‘soon enough’. What’s bigger than rebuilding your offense and adding a top-tier starter to slot in alongside Hendricks in the starting rotation?