Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs landing Carlos Rodon would be interesting for him and his family.
The Chicago Cubs were one of the teams that were taking a serious look at Carlos Rodon last offseason. They even attended one of his workouts. Ultimately, Rodon returned to the south side but that doesn’t mean the Cubs won’t try to poach him again.
The Cubs are likely not going to go after free agents that received a qualifying offer because it would mean losing their second-highest pick in the 2022 MLB draft. This makes free agents, like Rodon, who did not receive a qualifying offer, a priority target.
The Cubs need starting pitching. They already signed Wade Miley in an effort to patch up the rotation. Miley is coming off a 6.0 WAR showing with the Reds and posted a 3.37 ERA in 2021. The Cubs are not done adding to the rotation. Cubs general manager, Jed Hoyer, has emphasized that the starting rotation is a top priority for his squad this offseason.
The Cub’s rotation in 2021 put too much pressure on their defense. Their staff threw a major league-leading 5,088 pitches that were two-seamers or sinkers last season. Those tend to be the easiest pitches to put in play. They also ranked last in the MLB in an average fastball velocity of 89.7 mph. Rodon can help on both of those fronts.
Despite missing starts due to soreness, Rodon still managed to rack up 185 strikeouts. He averaged an absurd 12.55 K/9 innings. The southpaw can also chuck it with the best of them. His fastball reached 100 mph on multiple occasions in 2021. He is the perfect power pitcher to complement Kyle Hendricks’s soft style of pitching.
Carlos Rodon could be the missing piece of the puzzle. Featured next to Miley, Kyle Hendricks, Albert Alzolay, and potentially Alec Mills, the Cubs would have a respectable five-man rotation.