Chicago Cubs Rumors: Miami Marlins starting pitchers made available

In a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Miami Marlins are reportedly making four of their starting pitchers available via trade and that could be of interest to the Chicago Cubs. We always assumed Pablo Lopez would be had this winter via trade, but now the Cubs have some shopping to do. To be fair, all four aren't quite at that ace level, but there is a lot of potential in all four who have recently experienced success at the MLB level.

It's no secret the Cubs need a frontline starter, even if it's another solid pitcher to place in the two spot of the rotation drastically helps. You can never have enough of those upper-tier arms. Though the schedule changes in 2023, it speaks volumes to a pitching staff that has succeeded in a highly competitive NL East division. Let's dive right into the four available options and who could be the best fit for the Cubs.

4 Marlins' starters available - 4. Pablo Lopez

Pablo Lopez will be the most sought-after of the bunch due to what he displayed in 2022. Though he more than likely became fatigued towards the end of the year due to a seriously increased workload from the year prior, Lopez is still only 26 and offers a ton of potential. Lopez hurled 104 innings in the first half of 2022 to the tune of a 2.86 ERA. By far the best stretch of his career, he allowed a line of just .210/.281/.374 against would-be hitters. Set to enter his prime, Lopez's 180 innings in 2022 would have been by far the best of any Cubs pitcher.

Contract-wise, Lopez still has two years remaining on his deal, so he will cost a pretty penny to obtain via trade. He has all the potential to turn into an ace if he can maintain the same production throughout an entire season. He finished 2022 with a 3.75 ERA, but most of the damage was done in the second half after he surpassed his career high in innings pitched. Expect multiple teams to be inquiring very quickly.