The Chicago Cubs came into the season in desperate need of pitching, but they never added the ace they seemed to need. As a result, they fell short in the postseason.
Their offseason is going to be centered around outfielder Kyle Tucker and his free agency sweepstakes, but their front office needs to add to the pitching staff, too.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently listed the Cubs as one of the favorites to sign Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez in free agency this offseason. Bowden also projected Valdez to sign a massive six-year, $190 million deal this winter.
“Valdez has pitched in plenty of big games and has a track record of performing in the postseason. He’s an elite ground-ball pitcher who pitches deep into games,” Bowden wrote. “He did struggle down the stretch this season, allowing four or more runs in four of his final five starts and was the subject of some controversy. Even with that end to his season, he’s still the best starting pitcher in this year’s class.”
The Cubs are one of the top landing spots for Valdez because of their desperate need to add pitching. Chicago is likely going to prioritize Tucker with pitching taking a back seat in free agency, but if it whiffs on the superstar outfielder, Valdez could be a solid part of the backup plan.
This idea likely hinges on Tucker, as there’s no realistic world where the Cubs can land both stars. Adding Valdez to the top of the pitching staff would be a huge move in the right direction.
