Chicago Cubs HAVE TO get a pitcher like Dylan Cease

Chicago Cubs HAVE TO get a pitcher like Dylan Cease

The hot stove came a little bit quicker than we thought, but we got to talk about this one. A reunion. Let’s go. You are Locked on Cubs. Your daily Chicago Cubs podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. Alongside Sam Olber, I’m Matt Hosy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Today’s episode is all about starting pitching. We go over free agent and trade target targets later while they finally need a pitcher of a different profile. And we do start with the first official rumor as free agency begins five days after the conclusion of the World Series. And we were so close to making it through our player review series uh before we entered the hot stove. We weren’t quite able to get there as the Cubs were connected over the weekend to one of the best starting pitchers available this off season on Saturday. 670 the score and marquees Bruce Levine reported that the Cubs will pursue Dylan CE who posted a 455 erra with 215 strikeouts in 168 innings in 2025. Cece finished second in the Sai Young in 22, fourth in 24, striking out 200 plus batters five years in a row and he’s never missed a start five years in a row. Sam, this is an exciting first hot stove connection for our team and I think it’s one where you know there for example there was one last week like uh where John Haymon mentioned Schwarber with the Cubs but it didn’t feel like there was real steam attached to the to that. This feels very legit because my mind when I first read this on the early stages of Saturday morning uh was when my mind straight went to the the rumors with like Suzuki and the Padres’s. Remember that last year. I think the Cubs were pretty acquiring CE last year. obviously the connection of of of you know him being a Cubs farm hand uh and and to be honest with you a as you’ve talked about I think he pitched himself into a negot you know a a negotiable sort of deal for the Cubs. You know the Cubs aren’t going to spend a lot and he didn’t really pitch that well this year and I don’t think he’s going to get you know in the high ones or or something like that. So now all of a sudden you’re starting to talk maybe uh in the Cubs price range which is sad to say but true and we have to just acknowledge that. Uh, and then it, as you mentioned, it’s a it just it makes sense from a fit standpoint, as we’ll talk about, because, you know, I I still believe in, you know, you want to have guys that compliment each other, and nobody would compliment this rotation more than a guy that is just a high strikeout, high whiff guy. I think it’s pretty exciting. I think it’s an exciting rumor. Um, I was actually surprised that I got enjoyment off of this enough to text you because I would I would guess that preh Halloween I’d still be kind of upset about the the loss to Milwaukee and still kind of just be in in sad. How is that going? Yeah, I I’ve kind of just Yeah. Okay. Like I just I’ve kind of just kind of labeled 25, you know, as like a, you know, hopefully a stepping stone as as Dansby was kind of talking about in his Instagram post today that I reposted. And then now it’s like, okay, well, how can we take the next step? So, it’s exciting to talk about um you know, rumors like this. And I do think that this type of deal would complete one of the three or four best starting rotations in all of baseball. Well, that’s a that’s a uh little nugget right there at the end. Yeah, because they weren’t even close to that this past year. Yeah, I do think that. Uh and and so I I I definitely want to follow up on that before we get out of here in the 33 minutes. But uh I’m excited about this because even though we still have a few players to review, you always do kind of peer towards the future. you want to turn the page. I’ve been content with and I don’t know if I would call it a celebration, but definitely reviewing, recapping, and at times celebratory toneish, you know, of of the 25 campaign. But this team does have a big opportunity, and if that’s what Swanson alluded to preh Halloween, I’m glad that’s where his mind is. I’m not surprised he would be the guy to do that. Uh but this is a clear window of opportunity that they have and so a name like Dylan CE uh should come up. Um and and I do believe the familiarity with the Cubs organization after getting drafted by them, you know, over a decade ago now. I think it matters a little bit. I think the Cubs familiarity and success with Scott Boris clients, albeit maybe uh begrudgingly, helps here, too. But I do go back to the dollars and cents of it. And and we’re going to get into fit. We’re going to get into who else fits this team because there’s really there’s actually quite a few good names, which is encouraging. Uh, but with CE turning 30 in December, you you look at other 30-year-old Sam who performed similar to him when they were free agents. Mhm. They received big deals. Yeah. And I understand CE had a 455 RA last year, but do you think the Mets care about that? Do you do you think the the Giants do you think the Phillies who might replace Suarez with Cease? The Astros might replace Valdez with cease. I Corbin Burns 6 for 210. Wow. Freed 8 for 218. Uh couple you That was last winner. Two winners ago. Glass now 5 for 137. Nola 7 for 172. I can’t sit here and tell you the Cubs go to that length for a starting pitcher, but it’s fun to think about. You make a great case. Um, you make a great case. Uh, let me start with just following up on Swanson because I I I don’t want to I feel like I led you in a different place than, you know, he did he he celebrated the year very much so, but then just talked at the end just said, “Hey, many more things, you know, to be written or whatever.” So, it’s very similar to your that’s on brand for this team though that their window is open to win and win big. You make a great case with with those names. You really do. And it’s hard to argue against it. Um my I guess if I had to if I if I had to say, hey, here’s why the Cubs could get him is I think because of the inconsistencies, maybe CE is a little bit closer to a glass now type of deal. Now Glass Now was because of his injury history. um not as inconsistencies, but because of that, you know, what did you say last night was five for a buck 37. Yeah. Um the Cubs would I think the Cubs would go there. I think they I think they I think they go there. I mean, that’s less than 30 mil a year. Yeah, it is. Um and then the other part the the huge part of this, which I think you’re going to get to this week, forgive me if I’m wrong, is the Imanaga side, right? What do they do with Shota? I if they if they reject that that option and I I believe it would be$ 199 million for next year and figure out what they’re going to do, then that really does open up the budget for a starter. But that I mean there’s so many things we could go that’s a good point. But you could also comment and say, well, I think they need more bats and and if you if you’re going to spend 28 million on Dylan CE next year, what do you do with the bats? Um, I personally just feel like they feel really good internally about Biaseros and Casey and whatnot and those guys and just want to get pitching. And just following up on what I said, which we could talk about, you know, we had Steel on the show for Friday, he he basically talked about how he might, you know, he might be on a pitch limit when he comes back, but he he to me reading him between the lines, it was, “Hey, I gotta get, you know, get myself to be at my best down the stretch.” If he’s at his best down the stretch with Horton, with Boyd, with Cease, with Tyion, now you’re starting to have a little bit of a vibe to you and you don’t have to look too far if you go watch the World Series. I mean, Yamamoto Gaus, absolutely. You know, starting pitching might be making a little bit of a return. So, um, I don’t know. Uh, it’s exciting, but but your case is hard to argue. I’m trending towards loading up on starting pitching. I I still want to dig into the third base position and DHL right field. What could they could do? Um but I right now as I sit here, I think starting pitching is is probably the way to go if they’re going to go uh go big. All right, let’s follow up on the uh rotation ranking if they brought in a guy like this. also why the rotation needs a guy like this in the first place and later uh some more targets besides Case. There’s a a lot of good ones. Stay tuned. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back. Matt was just talking a little bulls before we got on the air. And there’s no better place to get into the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. even if you miss the start of the game or or want to ride the hot hand. FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. Now, folks, um I gave out a really bad play on Thursday and I apologize for those who took it. I actually had a pretty good Sunday afternoon. I had the Ravens minus six and a half because I took that before Lamar was ruled out and they still covered with their backup because the Bears don’t have a very good football team. And I took Houston. However, I took the Browns and uh uh publicly said that. That’s unacceptable for me and my apologies. I’ll be better moving forward. Uh also have Pittsburgh tonight at plus three and a half. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Shout out to the Everyday Dares. You can become a locked down Cubs Every Dare by joining us for every episode throughout the week. All right, I do think the Cubs have to acquire a starting pitcher this off season who strikes people out. Uh not to mention Dylan CE ranked third in 2025 in fastball velocity uh with an average fast ball of 97.1 FM the drive. Congratulations to them for winning uh Maronei for best rock station of the year. Uh but the Cubs rotation just had the the third lowest fast ball vo in baseball Sam and they struck out only 20% of batters. So, uh, is that is that where your claim about them rising up the rotation ranks lies? Cuz this is a rotation that for some time now has lacked these things. And I think it’s time it’s time to get someone like this and we’ve seen both because of the regular season and especially the playoffs. It’s that plus. So, I’m going to add to that. Plus, what was the biggest bugaboo, would you say, for this starting rotation this year besides lack of strikeouts? Right. I’ll go rhetorical. Um, lack of availability, right? You you had Steelout for the year. You had uh I monogamous significant time. Boyd stayed healthy throughout the whole year, but faded and you’re a little bit worried about him next year. I think that’s just a a an easy opinion to have. JMO missed time I think two separate times. Let me read you Dylan CE game started since 2021. Ready? No, he hasn’t missed one. 32 32 33 33 32. Um that type of availability with his ability to get whiffs and strike out guys just to me fills what this rotation’s missing which is swing and miss whiff ability um high velocity as you mentioned and availability and um for that I think it is a a little bit of a safer long-term investment um if he continues to make 30 starts a year which is just it’s it’s a rarity these days. No, the durability part of his game is is a big reason why he’s going to get uh what would that be? Nine figures. I mean, he’s going to clear that I think easily, you know, and I think in the 130s is a good starting point we were talking about earlier. Um I I like the the the diversity of the rotation. Uh, I I think the the depth chart looks okay right now, but you add VO, you add strikeouts in, you know, including swing and miss. Um, it just it’s it’s that much better. And I think you become that much more potent of a rotation uh of of a staff in general, then of course uh as a team. And are we dealing from a position here? And I I say we just in terms of hey, do you and I start looking at the moves this off season with a Dodgers lens? Like are the Cubs are the Cubs that good where it’s like, hey, this person he could beat the Dodgers. This person, he could hit a homer against Snell. This person could do that. Yeah, I I don’t know. I haven’t decided that. But cease would be someone with the Dodgers lens. I mean, not even it would and then some. And And you also want to look at it from a Brewers lens. And well, you absolutely And and look what beat the Brewers pretty handily. Yeah. Just pitchers that were so dominant that they’re that that they didn’t even really compete offensively. Yeah. No, you don’t have to say pretty handily. Just say they got embarrassed because that’s what happened. They got four hits. And when you look at the Dodgers so far, granted as we we record it’s 1-1, you know, the I know Otani had the three homer game, but it hasn’t really been much about their offense at all. It’s been uh Snell, Yamamoto, Otani, and Glass now just dominating. and and the Blue Jays put a stop to Snell in game one, but then in game two, you know, I mean, Yamamoto threw a complete game, you know, and so my point is, and Ce doesn’t go that deep. My point is, is you’re seeing you’re seeing it exactly the way I’m seeing it. Maybe the way to even the playing field is to just have five dudes that could just go into Dodger Stadium or go into Milwaukee and just say, “You’re not scoring more than two or three, so let’s see what happens.” and and you start dreaming of Cade and and Cease and Steel and and Boyd and whoever. And again, I mean, some of those guys, I mean, Boyd struggled towards the end, but then adding a guy like Cease allows Boyd to have some time off and maybe skip a start two or three times a year. And so, yeah, I I I think a and after listening to Jed’s presser postgame, I mean, it really feels like defense run prevention is where he wants this identity to be. and you start reading between the lines and again it does make sense. But to your really good point in the first segment, you know, to go get great players, you’re gonna have to compete, you’re gonna have to spend and and it does scare you that a team like the Mets coming off maybe maybe outside of the Braves the most disappointing season and the Orioles in baseball, you know, they’re going to be aggressive and the Cubs reluctance to sign players who receive a qualifying offer. Right. Right. which CE is going to get three minutes, you know, three minutes into the free agency, right? Um, okay. That stuff is just Yeah, it’s Well, it’s it is it is annoying. It is. It’s annoying. So, going over the current depth chart, would you like to do it with Imanaga and Ray who the Cubs have options on or without, or both? I I think whatever you lean towards because I think you probably have a a better pulse than I do on the Emaga situation because I have no idea what’s going to happen. Well, you’re stating some of the reasons that I that I think they’re going to bring him back. Yeah. Which is which is basically to build in as much certainty as you can, especially in this one-year window. But can’t they bring him back at a lower price by rejecting that that team option and just doing like a one-year whatever? I need to look into that. I think it would be I’m pretty sure they have a threeyear 57 option on him. If they decline that, then I think he has a one-year 15 that he could opt into if he wants. Yeah. Um and then if he rejects that, then it becomes a free agency. I think it goes. You could you could give him a qualifying offer, too, which would be about 22 million. And I I’ve never seen a more complicated contract ever. I know. Yeah. So I’ll I’ll do my best to break that down later this week. Yeah, just kind of going slow through that. I one year 15 for show. I’d be fine. I wouldn’t give him 20 plus though. Not even for one. Wow. Even though this this is such a pivotal year, especially before baseball leaves us. You got all those guys in their walk year. Yeah, you might be right. I think Colin Ray is like a slam dunk to come back in his options. But I just know that the Cubs are on such a strict budget and 20 million for them is a lot. Okay, but I’m saying it right now and I know the everydayers are with us. They This is the year to go over the luxury tax. If I hear strict budget again, I’m out. Okay. But you know they are the same. The sport’s going to change um immensely drastically. Why wouldn’t they go over the last year of the luxury tax? Why wouldn’t they just go over it? Well, I think they are going to go over it, but I don’t think this might be the last year of the of the tax. I don’t think they’re going to spend 270, though. 260. Well, then two two 249, 250. Yeah. All right. You’re right. All right. But let’s It’s okay to pressure them a little bit. We I mean, if we pressure them every day. I mean, I wish I’m just reiterating. Why can’t they go negotiate with Schwarber? No idea. Otani seemed like a pretty good fit. All right, let’s say they bring Imanaga and Ray back. Okay, sorry. Then you have eight people who could start. That’s the Bears got quarterback wrong again. No, no, don’t don’t don’t squeeze that in 20 minutes in. Drake May looks unbelievable. Go ahead. Oh, yeah. No, he is on the short list of MVP candidates, right, May? Yeah, he was. They could have had him. Steel, Horton, Boyd, Tyion, Shoda, Ray, Assad, and Brown. Yep. Plus a starter of impact plus like, you know, an Aaron Savali or someone. That’s 10 guys. Mhm. That makes me feel good. It does. And I I I had on my notes to ask Steel about Wiggins. We never got to it. And Wiggins would be 11, right? Yeah. I I I wonder if if he’d be in that realm or or is he a trade candidate? You know what I mean? Wiggins. I I don’t know. Way, right? No, it’s it’s a strong but but it’s strong. Well, and maybe they trade Wiggins for for uh one of the the guys we’re going to bring up next. Free agent and trade targets uh besides Dylan CE right after this. This episode is brought to you by Game Time. And the NFL season is back. And honestly, there’s nothing better than being in the stadium surrounded by fans cheering on your team. But let’s be honest, getting tickets can be a hassle. Between cues, login screens, and prices jumping at checkout, it’s frustrating. That’s why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to fans. Game time is fast, easy, and backed by the Game Time guarantee. You always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included. So, the price you see is the price you pay. I pulled up Game Time and in just a couple taps, I saw amazing deals. I’m talking about your favorite NFL games as low as $100. The app made it super simple. I could even see the exact few view for my seat before buying. So, please download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lockdown MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code L O C K D O N M LB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download Game Time today. Make sure you’re subscribed to Locked On Cubs on your preferred audio platform or YouTube. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you. All right, let’s do free agency first and the trademark. Uh the other top tier names in free agency besides cease are a pair of lefties, Sam Ranger Suarez and Framber Valdez. I think the Cubs are basically non-factors for them. uh they’re lefty. That might be a reason. Price range and with Valdez character, I don’t think there’s a catcher in baseball that wouldn’t be at least skeptical of him right now. I do think you have a intriguing second tier though with with these three names and really we could probably spend the rest of this segment just on this trio and that’s Jack Flity, Michael King, and Shane Bieber. And I mean you’re at first blush you you see you know I’m getting the sense that that doesn’t that doesn’t intrigue you actually. Well I just would like to you know for once just go with the top tier of guys. Um I’ll add one more thing with Valdez. I’m not sure the Cubs want to spend super heavy on a sinker baller when ri when playing the way that it is. Okay. Uh you know what I mean? Like it’s just they have enough bat-to ball skills. They have enough guys that uh bat to ball skills. They have enough guys that pitch to contact is what I meant to say. Um they have guys that get ground balls. I I want more whiffs. And don’t me wrong, Valdez strike. I mean, he’s a fantastic pitcher, but you know what I mean. I just think that could be a tie break between him and Cece. Uh who’ you say you said Flity, Michael King, and who? Shane Bieber. I think Ce’s teammate King intrigues me the most of those three for sure. For sure out of those three, but to me, you just mentioned a list of of nine or 10 names that we feel pretty good about depthwise. So, I think if you’re going to add a a starter, let’s add more quality over quantity type. So, like if you’re going to add just just go get one. Um, but a lot of this, and I’m not just saying this because he was on, I think a lot of this depends on steel. It really does. Like a and like when does he come back? How effective is he early? Because this is a guy, you know, before I interviewed him, I I was going over his numbers and stuff. Like this is a guy when he pitches, you’ve mentioned this. You’re talking about like a top 15 20 pitcher in baseball since since he’s been there. So, how long is it going to take for him to get there? How confident are the Cubs uh in that? Good question. Because I think that really depends on how aggressive you go numbers wise in free agency for a pitcher, you know. I don’t think it should, but I get what you’re saying. Oh, yeah. But it will. Yeah. Well, then maybe these four names are really the most intriguing. Kings King’s fun. That’s a fun name. Yeah. I mean, 25 RA with almost 30% strikeout rate his first 10 starts. Mhm. And then he went to the IIL, which was an IIL trip that basically ended his whole year. And what did do you know what happened to him? I don’t have that in front of me. I’m sorry. I’ll look it up. Just want to make sure it’s not like an elbow. I don’t think it was. Um, are you willing to go four or five years on King who looked like a clear clear number two uh before the injury? Maybe. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yes. In fact, if you could go I mean, let’s just do it right now. Would you rather go f would you rather go five for one 120 on king or you know five for 140 150 on cease? I’d probably take the former. Wow. Yeah, that’s telling. That’s telling. Maybe. Uh and then we got these these targets that we heard over the summer and I think we’ll hear about again starting next month. Yeah. More more Joe Ryan. Actually, there’s already some smoke with him which is encouraging. trade. Trades, right? Yeah, trades. Sandy Alcantra, who uh ended the season really strong after just a complete blow up to begin his year. Edward Cabrera and McKenzie Gore. And one of those names still fits the bill, right, of sliding in between Steel and Horton as Clear Impact to me. I think all of them but Alcantra. Wow. But even though he finished the year well, Matt, I know he had an RA of seven in the around the deadline, but he his RA was in like the high ones his last six, seven starts. That’s I would still be very very cautious and I mean it depends what the deal is. Like I think we learned last year we learned last year that trades is probably the easiest option for the Cubs to go because hopefully you don’t leave the show but because of their budget constraints. Would you trade Casey for Alcantra? Yeah, it’s a great it’s a great question. I promise. I’m trying to win a World Series now. I’m done. I’m done with the the ticky tac stuff. This is the year. Wow. Um would I trade Casey for Alcantra? That’s such a brilliant question. Okay, we’re not going to have a sport in 15 months. So, we’re we’re we’re worried about a budget. Yes, you’re right. I would. Okay. I would I would take the risk on a guy that could throw 100 miles an hour that has that ability. I’ve done a lot of reflecting the last week and they need to go big. Okay. I I think that I think Joe Ryan would be like the perfect fit. Well, that’d be insane. Yeah. So, what would that cost? Could Could you make that trade without giving up Horton? Like would Wiggins Would Wiggins and Casey do that? No, but they would be in it. Okay. And you may have to trade Matt Shaw and uh Well, why can’t they just go get a guy in free agency? Well, they can. What’s prevented that besides their own self-imposed restrictions? Well, because the self-imposed restriction is the is because is by the guy that runs everything. Okay. What prevents me tomorrow? I understand what prevents on him. What prevents me tomorrow uh from not doing my job? Well, my boss. He prevents that. And so when the boss says, “Hey, Jed, you can’t do that.” It that’s a problem. Absolutely. Okay. Just get Caesar King then. Yeah. But, you know, if you’re going to make a deal and that’s the route you have to go, those are some really, really intriguing options. Not to mention, you know, Pete Alonzo would look good as the DH. You still want to bring back Tucker? At least I do. Yeah, we’ll have to do a show about that. Yeah, that’ll be a big show. I just don’t think the Cubs have a chance. Maybe that’s next Monday. Monday’s a pretty uh I mean, I’ve already heard the Dodgers want them. So, if they want them, what what are the Cubs going to do? Right. It’s kind of a mood point then. Yeah. If the Dodgers are going to if the Dodgers are going to give him 220 and the Cubs are sitting there waiting to do a Bellinger type deal. I mean, you know, just not going to happen. Fresh out. Yeah. You know, that’s, you know, it’s like me betting on the Browns. All right. Our first rumor show of the year is in the books. That was intense. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. For your second listen, find Locked On MLB game night. every game, every night till a World Series champion is crowned. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on Locked on MLB on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. We’ll be back tomorrow. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs. Go Cubs.

Find out why the Cubs have to get a pitcher like Dylan Cease this offseason to upgrade their rotation with velocity and strikeouts. Plus: Other possible rotation targets on the free agent and trade market.

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