Cubs' biggest offseason regret now looks like lifeline after Cade Horton injury

According to some, the biggest regret from the Chicago Cubs' offseason was not relying on a plethora of high-variance, mostly veteran arms in their starting rotation. In addition to a rather large discrepancy between the ceiling and floor of the starters, there were durability concerns among nearly all members of the unit.

There were some, then, who wanted the Cubs to go out and get a legitimate, durable, top-of-the-rotation starter. If they had done so, they'd likely have fewer options in the rotation, which curiously would have put them in a worse position than they are now.

For those who predicted the Cubs' downfall for relying on Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga, they might be sitting here believing that Chicago has fallen into the trap. Boyd is injured, and Horton is out for the year. The Cubs should be sunk. But for the same reason why folks were concerned about the starters is the exact same reason why they're well-positioned to survive the injury wave.

Cubs' pitching depth should keep them afloat

The Cubs never truly had much of an interest in the top free-agent starters like Framber Valdez, but that didn't prevent experts from naming Chicago as a prime fit for his services. Valdez is making a bit over $36 million per year, which is more than Imanaga, Cabrera, and Colin Rea combined.

Would you rather have that trio or Valdez? With Imanaga pitching like an ace and Cabrera not far behind him, the Cubs are proving that they actually have the necessary firepower at the top of the rotation. Then, with guys like Taillon and Rea, they also have the depth to not only just fill out the back-end, but also step up in the face of injuries.

On the subject of injuries, you can look at the history of the guys in the rotation and point out that other pitchers have been more durable, but it doesn't change the fact that bumps and bruises are a fact of life, and no starter is truly immune. It's critical to have the depth to survive, which is exactly why Chicago isn't spiraling right now.

This unit will keep the team afloat, and eventually, the high-end ace potential will return to the rotation, not in the form of Horton, but instead with the return of Justin Steele. By that point, the Cubs will essentially have the best of both worlds.

Obviously, it stings to lose a rising young talent like Horton for the year, but what many pinpointed as the Cubs' biggest weakness is working out to be a strength in these trying times. They say you can never have enough pitching for a reason, and the Cubs are living proof right now.

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