The What Ifs of The Cubs’ Off-Season

The start of spring training is just about a month away, and the Cubs remain smack dab in the middle of the rumor mill.

Chicago’s primary offseason focus has been to bolster their pitching staff. Which they have done by adding right-hander Tyler Chatwood to the starting rotation, and adding righty Brandon Morrow to the back end of the of the bullpen.

Even after adding Chatwood and Morrow Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer continue to work the phones as they hunt for more pitching. The three names linked strongest to the Cubs have been Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, and Alex Cobb. Darvish has remained the Cubs top choice, but there are a host of other teams interested in him as well

Let’s take a look at what the Cubs’ backup plans could be if Darvish signs elsewhere:

What if Darvish signs with another team?

If Darvish signs elsewhere the Cubs’ will most likely shift their attention to trying and resign Jake Arrieta. At the start of offseason, it was thought that there was no possible way Arrieta would return to Chicago, but how quickly things can change. The pace of the offseason has seemed to have brought the price of the most coveted free agents down. The chances of Arrieta returning to the Cubs remain relatively slim, but the odds are defiantly higher than they were at the start of the offseason.

What if Darvish and Arrieta both sign elsewhere?

Now let’s say Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish both sign with teams other than the Cubs. If that happens then, the Cubs will shift their efforts towards Alex Cobb. It’s been a strange process when it Cobb and the Cubs. At the start of the winter, it almost seemed like a lock that the righty would sign with Chicago, especially after Chicago added former Rays’ pitching coach Jim Hickey on to Joe Madden’s coaching staff. The Cubs reportedly made a three-year contract offer which was worth about $45 million in early November. Cobb rejected the offer. Both he and his team believe that he is worth more then Chicago offered. Even after the setback Cobb and the Cubs have remained in contact

What if Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, and Alex Cobb all sign elsewhere?

Now granted the odds of the Cubs missing out on Darvish, and Cobb appears to be the least like scenario, but it currently bears thinking pondering. If that happens then, the Cubs will have to look at their internal options. At the top of the list would most likely be lefty Mike Montgomery. Chicago may also look at a trade. They have been linked to Chris Archer and Danny Salazar, but the trade prices for both pitchers is exceptionally high, and the Cubs appear hesitant to trade Javier Baez, Addison Russell, or Ian Happ.

So what do I think happens?

I have a feeling Yu Darvish will end up signing with the Cubs. I also think Jake Arrieta signs with the rival St. Louis Cardinals, and I think Alex Cobb will sign with the Minnesota Twins.