Cubs have obvious weapon to survive through troubling temporary weakness

The Chicago Cubs have been built to last through an early-season weakness.

The Chicago Cubs didn’t make the league’s flashiest additions this offseason, but they did move intentionally. Signing Dansby Swanson is already paying off, and other moves the team made have set them up to survive through the absence of a notable fixture in the starting rotation: Kyle Hendricks.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic painted an interesting picture of how different things were for the Cubs the last time Hendricks wasn’t in the Opening Day rotation (subscription required). It’s been a minute, and Hendricks’ availability at the start of each year will cause some understandable anxiety for fans.

But they shouldn’t fret, because the Cubbies are built to last through this.

Cubs are prepared to last through Kyle Hendricks absence

Aside from Dansby Swanson, the biggest move Chicago made this winter was adding Jameson Taillon. Taillon spent the two seasons prior reinventing himself with the Yankees and earning himself a major pay-day with a $68 million deal that will keep him under contract for four seasons in the Friendly Confines.

Though the Cubs have split their first two games of the year, the starting rotation is standing out as an obvious weapon, and one that should realistically survive through the Hendricks absence.

The Cubs have yet to put their big pitching acquisition, Taillon, on the bump but have already proven starting pitching isn’t going to suffer. Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele both put up six scoreless in games one and two of the year.

While Stroman and Drew Smyly entering their ninth years, Taillon is in his seventh and Steele is in his third (and second as a starting pitcher).

The former three appear to be maintaining above-average play as veterans, and Steele’s first outing showed he has the ability to take a step forward this season. That’s a great mix to have in your rotation.

The sole wild card in the starting five is Hayden Wesneski, who has pitched just 33 total innings at the major league level. But as the fifth pitcher in the rotation, if he can be at least serviceable in the period that Hendricks is out, Chicago should be alright, considering the rest of their starters are poised to be above average.

Mooney’s article goes more in-depth on the complicated nature of Hendricks’ recovery and the uncertain timeline ahead. The Cubs have set themselves up to last through that period, regardless of how long it takes.