3 starting pitchers to snag if the Cubs' plans fall through

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As most of the MLB world waits for Shohei Ohtani to decide where he will play next, other teams are starting to snag mid-level pitchers to try not to miss out this winter. Already, we've seen Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, Kenta Maeda, Lance Lynn, Luis Severino, and Aaron Nola sign new contracts. We know the Chicago Cubs want to add to their starting rotation, but truth be told, they may need to work with a little more urgency and follow suit here.

We would love to see the Cubs land Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but the fact is that if they don't, it may be slim pickings after that. Therefore, it would be wise for the Cubs to dip into that mid-tier and add somebody to help the team contend in 2024. With names flying off the board, here are three free agents starting pitchers the Cubs can snag to ensure their rotation is at least better next season.

3 pitchers to snag just in case - 3. Eduardo Rodriguez

Not too long ago, we mentioned Eduardo Rodriguez as an exciting target for the Cubs. That statement remains true today, especially with pitchers flying quickly off the board. Rodriguez was solid in Detroit with the Tigers and recorded a career-best 3.30 ERA last season. However, this season was the third time he landed an ERA in the 3.00s.

Where the Cubs might be weary is that given that this was Rodriguez' best season from an ERA standpoint, his price point might be too much in an already inflated market for the Cubs to roll the dice and hope for further improvement. Still, with the names already off the board, once you get below the next group of best pitchers after the top of the market, the remaining arms don't move the needle for Chicago.

3 pitchers to snag just in case - 2. Jordan Montgomery

Closer to the top tier of free-agent pitchers is Jordan Montgomery. Between St. Louis and Texas last season, Montgomery recorded a stellar 3.20 ERA over 188.2 innings of work. Montgomery has a 3.48 ERA combined over the past three seasons, proving his consistency. He is the perfect candidate to beef up the starting rotation going into 2024 if Jed Hoyer is willing to pay the necessary funds to land him.

Montgomery is only entering his age 30 season, and after recording a 4.3 WAR (according to Fangraphs), there's still plenty left in the tank for him to help any ballclub take it to the next level. Where the Cubs might balk is offering him a five-year deal. Jon Heyman reported earlier in the month that Montgomery could net a contract in the range of 125-130M, and that he may want to return to the Yankees, Cardinals, or Rangers. The Cubs would have to bite the bullet, but offering him a higher AAV on a shorter contract may be one way to get him listening.

3 pitchers to snag just in case - 1. Blake Snell

After winning the Cy Young Award this season, Blake Snell seems to get little love in free agency. His market will open up once Ohtani and Yamamoto sign, but in the meantime, he appears, at best, to be everybody's 3rd choice. Snell won't be cheap, given the caliber of season he just recorded. In 1.80 frames, he posted a league-best 2.25 ERA while notching 234 strikeouts in the process. Like Montgomery, Snell is a southpaw who is only 30 years old.

Thinking outside the box and adding Snell to a contract that The Athletic (subscription required) estimates will only cost 122M total for five years gives the Cubs another starter at the top of their rotation for almost the same AAV that Marcus Stroman cost. Given Snell's upside, he makes the Cubs better, and the team cannot afford to miss on every top arm again this winter. Snell gives the Cubs two top 5 Cy Young finalists from 2023 and a lethal one-two punch in the rotation.

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