3 Cubs moves to make after losing out on Carlos Correa

Cubs need to swing big for a pitcher

Telegraphing Carlos Rodon to the Cubs might be a bit of a stretch, but if not him, Chicago still has to upgrade their starting rotation somewhere.

Signing Jameson Taillon earlier this offseason was a good start. The former Yankee and Pirates farmhand is a solid middle of the rotation starter. But that’s not where the Cubs pitching upgrades should end.

Let’s take a look at the best starting pitchers available on the free-agent market:

• Carlos Rodon
• Nathan Eovaldi
• Noah Syndergaard
• Zack Greinke
• Corey Kluber

I’ll stop the list there, as it gets scary after a certain point. If Chicago does miss on Rodon — and his market is said to be massive at the moment with very little margin for error — then taking a shot for Eovaldi or Syndergaard is the next best thing.

Both players have extensive injury histories, but Syndergaard was productive on a Phillies team that made the World Series last year, and Eovaldi can pitch like an ace for stretches when healthy.

Either would feature prominently near the top of the Cubs rotation.