The Athletic's Black Friday deal for Cubs put Jed Hoyer's promises to the test

Signing Phil Maton to a two-year deal worth $14.5MM was a sign that the Chicago Cubs are willing to spend on a pitcher they like, and it could be an encouraging sign for their search for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher this offseason. The impression is that the Cubs are willing to spend at the top of the market for a starting pitcher they like, and The Athletic's Black Friday deal for the Cubs will certainly put that belief to the test.

With a free-agent market that includes Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Tatsuya Imai, and Ranger Suarez, Andy McCullough has the Cubs shopping in the next tier down, with Michael King being an ideal Black Friday bargain for the Cubs.

Had it not been for health concerns, King would be in the same group as those ahead of him in the free-agent market. A reliever-turned-starter, King has pitched over 100 innings in a season only twice in his career, and last season with the San Diego Padres, a shoulder injury limited him to only 15 starts.

If the Cubs are intent on spending for a starting pitcher they like, Michael King may be the best option.

Dealing with a pinched nerve, King's strikeout numbers regressed in his final season in San Diego, striking out 24.7% of the hitters he faced. For his career, he has a 27% strikeout rate. It's what the Cubs have been lacking in their starting rotation, and if healthy, there is a belief that King could finally live up to his top-of-the-rotation ceiling.

For as much as King could be a bargain for the Cubs--compared to what they would have to spend for someone like Valdez, Cease, or Imai--even McCullough cautions the North Siders could be priced out of his sweepstakes. In a scenario where the top options are off the board, and King becomes the best starter available, it would seem that the stage would be set for the Cubs to be outbid.

As they did with Maton, if the Cubs like King, now would be the time to act. Take King off the market before he becomes the ideal target for a team shopping at the top of the free agency market. Otherwise, as was the case at the MLB trade deadline, the Cubs might be forced to the sidelines while leaving their biggest need unaddressed.