The stage could be set for the Chicago Cubs to repeat a mistake they made at the MLB trade deadline last season. The Cubs entered the deadline with a need in the rotation and only came away with an oft-injured swingman in Michael Soroka. The Cubs' stated goal this offseason was to add a power pitcher to their rotation, and it seems that they are already moving the goalposts.
The Cubs remained linked to Tatsuya Imai, and it's possible that's the reason they have had a hard cap in their bidding elsewhere, and could be one of the reasons why they have moved to the background of the Michael King sweepstakes.