The Chicago Cubs are in the market for starting pitching and there are few free agent classes that can match this year's level of talent. The latest rumors find the Cubs are already getting to work and will meet with the representatives of the top three starters on the market this week: David Price, Zack Greinke and Jordan Zimmermann.
Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago reports the Cubs are expected to meet with these players' agents before the general managers meetings conclude on Thursday. Mooney notes that the Cubs are in "information-gathering mode" regarding the top free agent starters as they hope to find out who is seriously interested in signing with Chicago.
Price arguably the best starter on the market and is expected to garner interest from almost every big market team; Greinke may not prefer to sign with a team that's centered around the city's media; and the market for Zimmermann is expected to be robust as well because he'll be cheaper than Price and Greinke due to his uncharacteristic 2015 campaign.
Mooney also noted president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said the team is unlikely to hand out two nine-figure contracts this offseason, so it's seems as if the Cubs are covering the appropriate ground to ensure they are in the loop with the premier pitching talent.
Rumors also indicated on Monday that the Cubs are interested in a reunion with right-hander Jeff Samardzija.
Chicago is merely doing their due diligence on the open market as they hope to add pitching depth, as evidenced from general manager Jed Hoyer's comments. While it seems like the Cubs can be spendthrifts in free agency, that's not the reality of it. Their payroll is expected to reach $111 million (according to Baseball-Reference) after they take care of their arbitration-eligible players. That also doesn't include the contract extension starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is expected to receive.
"Our job is to deal with now - and then also deal with the future," Hoyer told Mooney. "We have a really bright future for a long time and we're always thinking about how commitments for today will impact us down the road.
"There's a natural inclination to sort of look at the top of the free-agent market - and there's great players there - (but) we have to think about the entire market (and) ways to get better at every tier.
"Because, yeah, I do think there's a risk of becoming inflexible."
However, while Epstein is not set on adding two nine-figure contracts to the payroll this offseason, he also (sort of) acknowledged that it's not entirely out of the question.
"If we want to do two things we have to get pretty creative," he told Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. "Even if we do one really big thing we have to get creative."
"We have the ability to add a little bit from where we are right now. I don't think we have room to do everything that's been speculated in some areas."
Trading Starlin Castro could be a way to "get creative." He's owed nearly $40 million over the next four seasons. There have also been a few rumors about the team moving catcher Miguel Montero (who is owed $14 million in each of the next two seasons) due to the presence of rookie Kyle Schwarber, but Epstein downplayed that speculation.
However, the Cubs don't need to address their starting pitching depth solely in free agency. Their plentiful prospects can help them acquire an established cost-controlled starter, or at least one that isn't going for $20 million per year.
The options are endless for Chicago this offseason. They have financial flexibility and an arsenal of prospects/MLB talent to trade.
There's no doubt Epstein and Hoyer have a master plan in the works as the Cubs remain one of the most intriguing teams to watch this offseason.
