Fansided

3 offseason moves the Chicago Cubs have to make

By Adam Strangis

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 11: Manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs speaks to the media before game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on October 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 11: Manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs speaks to the media before game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on October 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 26: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 26, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 26: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 26, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

1. Rebuild the pitching staff

The Cubs have a pretty formidable task ahead of them. To their credit, the Cubs were top 10 in ERA and quality starts. They still need to find a way to improve the staff before it completely crumbles. Right now, their No. 1 starter under contract is Jose Quintana. That’s not an ideal ace. He’s better suited as a high-end No. 3 or a low-end No. 2. Chicago will be stuck with Jon Lester who carries a huge price tag and had one of the worst seasons of his career at 33. Kyle Hendricks is a fine back-end starter and John Lackey will likely be elsewhere.

The biggest in-house decision is what to do with Jake Arrieta. The Cubs would be wise to let him walk. Arrieta had a very good second half of the 2017 season and the Cubs should be happy with Arrieta helping win a World Series title. One way to attack the rotation would be to make a run at Lance Lynn in free agency. It’s possible to sign Lynn and J.D. Martinez as free agents and move Heyward in a deal for Hernandez or another starting pitcher. A rotation of Lester, Quintana, Hernandez, Lynn and Hendricks would be pretty solid starting five. Martinez could take the spot of Heyward and still leave space in the outfield for a signing next season.

The Cubs should tread lightly in free agency this year, even if they don’t greatly improve for the 2018 season. In one year, the free agency class will have names like OF Andrew McCutchen, SS/3B Manny Machado, SP Dallas Keuchel and the biggest fish of all, OF Bryce Harper. Chicago should find arms creatively for this season and then load up for a super team to keep their World Series window open after next season

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