For yet another offseason, the Chicago Cubs find themselves in a position where they need a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher but might not be willing to pay the financial cost to get one. Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, and Ranger Suarez are the top free-agent starting pitchers on the market this winter, but all three could command deals north of $125MM. A concept that is foreign to Jed Hoyer.
Before the Hot Stove has started in earnest, the most likely outcome is that the Cubs will follow a blueprint they had last offseason and at the trade deadline.