Cubs need an ace; Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and more will be available

Cubs could poach a franchise icon in Clayton Kershaw from the Dodgers

Right now, the idea of installing Clayton Kershaw atop the Chicago rotation seems pretty funny, just over a week after the Cubs chased the Dodgers lefty after just one inning – handing him the shortest start of his big league career in front of a national audience.

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But he’s very clearly one of the best pitchers of our generation and would be a massive step up from anyone currently in the mix on the North Side. Despite that clunker he turned in on Sunday Night Baseball earlier this month, Kershaw still boasts a 2.62 ERA/2.45 FIP in eight starts this year.

I cannot imagine Dodgers ownership lets Kershaw wear another uniform in his career. But if, somehow, that wound up being the case and he’s playing the free agent game for the first time, he could be a perfect fit for Chicago. He’d command more years and dollars than either Scherzer or Verlander at this point – but could pay off big-time.

Should the Cubs balk on these three, fear not. There are plenty of other potential arms, albeit few who measure up to what these aces have done. Trevor Bauer, of course, is the exception – as he could opt out of his deal with the Dodgers and hit free agency again this winter in search of another massive payday.

One thing’s for sure though. The Chicago Cubs need to overhaul the starting rotation – and the first thing they need is a legitimate ace to front the staff heading into 2022.