Getting starting pitching seems to be a priority of the Chicago Cubs this offseason and there are some interesting names on the board. While not every pitcher is going to be a great fit for what the Cubs are looking for while others could be a bit pricey, there are some strong names that fit the mold that Jed Hoyer is searching for.
One free agent starting pitcher was even named the “perfect fit” for the Chicago Cubs, so let’s take a deeper dive into who that is and what a potential deal could look like.
The Chicago Cubs should be interested in signing Michael King
Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Sports Illustrated writer Michael Brauner discussed how general manager Jed Hoyer could be able to get him for a reasonable, short-term contract.
“This is exactly where Hoyer would step in, presenting King with either a lucrative one-year agreement or a potential two-year deal that contains an option after the first. Chicago has an open window here, and adding someone like King – even if it’s just for one season – could make this team a real title contender.”
This also comes after MLB insider Mark Feinsand named King the perfect fit for Wrigleyville, while Andy McCullogh of The Athletic made the connection as well. It is clear that the Cubs are going to be intrigued by adding starting pitching to their roster, even after Shota Imanaga returned to the team. As the team currently stands, Fangraphs has the team having the following projected starting rotation:
Matthew Boyd
Cade Horton
Shota Imanaga
Jameson Taillon
Collin Rea
That is a decent-enough starting rotation, but does not have that upside that a championship contender typically has. King was bitten by the injury bug last year with the San Diego Padres. He made 15 starts (73.1 innings) and going 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. But he finished seventh in the 2024 NL Cy Young Award voting to showcase his abilities.
He has a strong five-pitch mix with four of his pitches being thrown at least 18.0% of the time to keep hitters off-balanced.
This could be a short-term contract that allows the Cubbies to take advantage of a talented starting pitcher with upside to be a second or third option in a playoff rotation. It also allows them not to have to pay the extraordinary price of starting pitching.
Names like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen are expected to make $20+ million per year. It will be intriguing to see if the Chicago Cubs are in the Michael King sweepstakes this offseason.
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