This ALCS-bound pitcher could be a low-cost Cubs free agent target this winter

With as much as $90 million coming off the books, depending on Cody Bellinger's opt-out decision, the Chicago Cubs will be connected to a large number of free agents this offseason.

It's fun to speculate on top-end starting pitchers like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried or Walker Buehler and we have reason to believe Chicago will check in with guys like that. As we saw this year, though, a team can't ever have enough starting pitching - and you can count on Jed Hoyer scouring the market for affordable deals for veteran arms to deepen his staff.

One name we haven't talked about yet, but is turning heads in the postseason is veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd.

Boyd, who signed with the Cleveland Guardians midseason as a free agent, finished the regular season strong, making eight starts and working to a 2.72 ERA and 10.4 K/9. But it's been his work here in October that's made headlines. Against the Tigers in the ALDS, he made a pair of starts, keeping Detroit off the board for 6 2/3 innings, punching out 10.

His return from Tommy John surgery has been a grind, but getting the ball in Saturday's winner-take-all Game 5 sent a bold message to the league: he's back. One of the nicest human beings in the game, Boyd would be a great addition to the Cubs clubhouse and could help address one of the team's weak spots: left-handed depth.

In what seems likely to mark the beginning of the post-Drew Smyly era, Boyd could give Craig Counsell an experienced option to slot into that swingman role. He excelled out of the Mariners bullpen two years ago in limited action and he's looked sharp all season long with the Guardians. On a league-minimum deal, he'll surely look for a pay bump after proving he's healthy, but this could still be a major bargain play for Hoyer in an offseason set to bring change to the North Side.