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So, here’s a quick recap of the 2019 Cubs so far.
While the Cubs and fans are obviously still focussed on a possible postseason run in 2019, it’s also not hard to look ahead to the offseason. Big roster changes didn’t actually happen last winter, but after another disappointing season the front office should be making significant moves. I mean, that should be the expectation anyway.
The first thing that comes to mind is how to improve the offense, but there’s also the whole starting rotation thing. Cole Hamels will be a free agent following this season, while Jon Lester and Jose Quintana can be free agents after the 2020 season.
Guess who’s going to be the top free agent this upcoming offseason? Right-handed starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. You know, the guy with a 3.28 ERA in his career that has a sub-3 ERA in two seasons with the Astros.
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So, here we go. It’s never too early to start connecting the dots and seeing what teams could be go after Cole in free agency. ESPN’s Buster Olney thinks the Cubs might be one of them.
But it’s still only August and Olney is purely speculating, so this barely qualifies as a rumor.
Via ESPN.
“Cole Hamels’ current deal runs out this fall and Jon Lester is signed for at least one more season, so the Chicago Cubs could be involved in the Cole bidding – but they’ve already got a lot of other dollars on the books.”
Olney also mentions the Angels, Phillies and Yankees as possible teams that will be in the mix for Cole.
The Cubs do have a lot of dollars on the books as Olney says, but they also have lots of dollars coming off the books too. Plus, it’s not like the Cubs aren’t afraid to spend money, they’re second in payroll in 2019, and oh yeah! That new TV money.
Here’s what Crane Kenney said back in May about the Cubs having more resources this upcoming free agency.
“Those additional resources are available immediately next year,” Kenney said. “The team has a rights fee significantly higher than what they’re receiving today, so that’s from the start. Then there’s the question on the network side of what profits are enjoyed, if any, (so) they could also be used for investment in the team or other assets around the ballpark or other interests of the (Ricketts) family. That’s probably a little further down the road. But from the team’s perspective, the rights agreement that they’ve got in place with (Marquee) will give them more resources next year than they had today.”
So, yeah, go after Gerrit Cole. Fix the offense. The Cubs can do both. No more excuses.
Oh and Kap thinks there’s no shot, so there’s definitely a shot.
