Chicago Cubs: 5 guys on postseason teams who are a perfect fit

Chicago Cubs: We should have picked this guy up a few years ago, right?

Justin Verlander isn’t an enigma at all. He’s a Hall of Fame-bound, top-flight ace pitcher when he’s healthy and certainly when he was younger. He even found new life (however he may have come across it) once joining the Houston Astros, extending an already noteworthy career with several outstanding seasons and postseason success.

There are a couple red flags with Verlander, however. He’s going to be 39 years old when the 2022 season begins, and he hasn’t pitched since October 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That’s right. He’s pitched a grand total of six innings since going 21-6 and winning the AL Cy Young award in 2019.

So, what do we make of Verlander, and what will the market bear for the big righty?

That’s the other side of the red flags I guess – the chance to risk a little for a potential big reward. If the Cubs could get a guy that even approached what Verlander has been throughout his career, a one or two-year deal with incentives might not be the worst idea if Chicago is looking to contend in 2022. Depending on the price, this is another guy who just costs money to go get, and the Cubs have that to spend. If they want…