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.