The Chicago Cubs will need to look hard at the starting pitching market this offseason, and they could be players for Tarik Skubal.
Edward Cabrera had some good moments as a Cub, but overall, injuries held him back, and he was inconsistent. Cade Horton could miss most of next season. Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes are free agents, and it remains to be seen how Justin Steele will perform in the big leagues after his injuries.
Skubal would certainly give the Cubs an ace, but he will not be cheap.
"The Chicago Cubs badly want Skubal," wrote ESPN's Jeff Passan on Monday. "They also are skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get -- well in excess of $300 million, potentially in the $400 million-plus range."
Skubal is expected to sign a record-breaking contract, and the Cubs are not typically the team that hands out those contracts. They are capable, but it's usually the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and New York Yankees making these kinds of deals.
The Cubs just watched their rival, the Milwaukee Brewers, win the World Series and may feel pressure to make moves to catch up. However, the Brewers did it without spending big, and the Cubs may be right to question whether they need tos pend $400 million on one arm.
Skubal is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and adding him would go a long way in fixing the rotation. However, would it be better than signing multiple starters?