Cubs' next move after Cade Horton injury couldn’t be more obvious now

Shortly before the start of spring training, the Chicago Cubs were flirting with the idea of signing Zac Gallen. It would have been a complicated deal, considering Gallen previously rejected a qualifying offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks. To that effect, Gallen returned to Arizona on a one-year deal. In the aftermath of the Cade Horton injury, the Cubs' interest in Gallen needs to be revisited.

It would have been of the expensive variety, but the Cubs' interest in Gallen was tied to the realization that a team can never have enough pitching depth during the regular season. Injuries happen, and the Cubs are the latest example of that.

Within the past week, the Cubs have lost 40% of their starting rotation. Horton likely will not pitch again this season, and Matthew Boyd is dealing with a bicep strain. Assuming the Cubs had interest in acquiring more pitching depth when both Boyd and Horton were healthy, chances are Jed Hoyer and Co. will explore the free-agent market in the coming weeks to do that very thing.

Lucas Giolito is an uninspiring name, but one free agent the Chicago Cubs may turn to after Cade Horton's injury.

The Cubs are also waiting for the return of Justin Steele. Steele is expected to return to the team around the start of June, and while Boyd and Horton are out, the team will seemingly look to Colin Rea and Javier Assad to fill the vacant spots in the rotation. With Jordan Wicks already on the IL, the Cubs are another injury away from their starting pitching depth looking thin.

Looking for pitching depth isn't something new for the Cubs. Hoyer tried to stockpile pitching depth during the offseason, and in past years, had larger pursuits for the starting rotation. One of those pursuits was Lucas Giolito, who had been an oft-rumored trade target for the Cubs over the last two years.

Giolito remains a free agent after a season where he posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts with the Boston Red Sox. His underlying metrics weren't that favorable, and may speak to the reason why teams shied away from his asking price during the offseason. Assuming the price has come down, Giolito could be an early option that the Cubs turn to. He's not the ace he once was with the Chicago White Sox, but could account for some of the innings the Cubs will no longer be getting from Horton this season.