The Cubs may have a lot of pitching depth in their organization, but it doesn’t mean they can ignore the free agent market for starting pitching. Drew Smyly and Wade Miley are now free agents and there’s no guarantee that Kyle Hendricks will be able to contribute in 2023 after missing half of 2022 with a shoulder injury. So, it’s no surprise that the Cubs are actively looking at free agent pitchers.
Kodai Senga, Martín Pérez and Corey Kluber have all been linked to the Cubs.
Cubs Favorites to Sign Kodai Senga?
The Cubs have been linked to right-hander Kodai Senga ever since it was known that he would come over from Japan as a free agent. According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Gordon Wittenmyer, the Cubs will be in contact with Senga’s camp soon and current Cubs’ right fielder Seiya Suzuki is helping recruit his fellow countryman to Chicago.
Via NBC Sports Chicago.
Hard-throwing right-hander Koudai Senga, a three-time All-Star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, has been courted by Cubs right-fielder Seiya Suzuki, the American agent who represents both said Monday as teams and agents began to gather for this week’s general managers meetings in Las Vegas.
“They’ve been in contact,” agent Joel Wolfe said near the lobby of the Conrad hotel and resort ahead of an anticipated meeting with Cubs president Jed Hoyer later in the week to discuss Senga. “Seiya said very nice things about his experience in Chicago.”
The 30-year-old pitcher has been projected to receive about $15 million per year on either a four of five year contract.
Senga’s projected contract:
Heyman: 5/65
Fangraphs: 4/60
ESPN: 5/72— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) November 9, 2022
Unlike the Suzuki signing from last offseason, the Cubs do not have to pay a posting fee to Senga’s team in Japan.
Cubs Have Met With Martín Pérez
According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have already met with left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez.
The 31-year-old was outstanding with the Texas Rangers in 2022, posting a 2.89 ERA, while striking out 169 batters in 196.1 innings. It was by far his best season of his career that began back in 2012.
Definitely a curious name for the Cubs to have interest in, but maybe they thought Pérez could be signed on a reasonable deal. However, now that the Rangers have extended the qualifying offer to Pérez, it would be crazy if he doesn’t take the guaranteed $19.65 million salary for 2023.
Rangers pitcher Martin Perez is getting a qualifying offer after making $4.5 mil last season. Huge year for him. Compiled a 2.89 ERA and may have fig things out in Texas. Unclear if he’ll accept as he’ll see what’s out there before the deadline next week. Nice raise if he does.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) November 10, 2022
Fangraphs projected Pérez’s contract if he hit the open market at $13 million to $15 million per year on a short-term deal.
Cubs Have Interest in Corey Kluber
According to Bruce Levine, right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber is on the Cubs’ radar.
Right-hander Corey Kluber, 36, is on the Cubs’ radar, sources said. He was 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 164 innings across 31 starts for the Rays in 2022. He struck out 139 batters and walked just 21.
The Cubs like the young pitching making its way through their organization, so it would be ideal for them to spend money on veteran pitchers in free agency on one- or two-year deals.
At 36-years-old, Kluber isn’t the ace who looked great against the Cubs in Game 1 of the 2016 World Series, but as a fourth or fifth starter on the Cubs? Sign me up. He dealt with injuries from 2019-21, but when he’s been on the mound the last two years Kluber has pitched well. Kluber had a 3.83 ERA in 16 starts with the Yankees in 2021 and in 2022 he made 31 starts, ending the season with a 4.34 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 164 innings on the Rays.
A one year deal at $10 million to $12 million would be good in my book. The only issue that others have brought up is that if the Cubs do sign Kluber, then you’d want them to target a starter that is better than Senga. You kind of prefer a more sure-thing when you’re adding two starting pitchers, when one guy is already 36-years-old.
Anyway, who do you want the Cubs to go after in free agency to address the starting rotation?
The Cubs are also busy looking into free agent first basemen.
Oh and how about a full offseason Cubs plan that includes a Rafael Devers trade?
And check out this week’s Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast.
