FullCountTommy

We've already delved pretty deeply into the Cubs' coming offseason. There are a few more needs the team will want to address, though, and a whole bunch of options to consider within them. Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports In Part One of this series, I wrote about the starting pitchers who could fill out the front end of the rotation, and about the urgency of bringing back Cody Bellinger. In Part Two, we discussed the hurlers who could transform the back end of the bullpen, and those who can give the middle of the lineup the thump and thwack it needs. Now, let's round out the picture. Third Base Nick Madrigal showed flashes of promise, especially on defense, but the bat isn’t there, and the repeated soft-tissue injuries make him unreliable. The Cubs need a steadying presence. With Matt Shaw potentially coming soon, it’s okay if that is a short-term option, though we still don’t even really know if Shaw can play third or not. Someone here to stabilize the position and push guys like Madrigal, Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom to the bench or off the 26-man roster is a clear area for improvement. The Options Jeimer Candelario (30), 3B/1B Stats: .251/.336/.471 (117 wRC+), 22% K, 9.2% BB The Cubs brought Candelario over in a mid-season trade, and while there were injury problems, he was raved about in the clubhouse. Prior to the back injury he suffered in Pittsburgh, Candelario slashed .312/.379/.506 in 87 plate appearances--only to see his production crater after he got hurt. He eventually spent significant time on the injured list. Candelario brings corner infield versatility and is a solid all-around hitter who isn’t a liability from either side of the plate. He’s a really nice fit for this club, shouldn’t require a long-term commitment and doesn’t block Shaw if he proves to be a legitimate option at the hot corner soon. Something a little above what Brandon Drury got last offseason would seem to make sense for both sides, who seem equally interested in a reunion. This would be my betting favorite for 2024 Cubs third baseman. Justin Turner (39), 3B/1B Stats: .276/.345/.455 (114 wRC+), 17.6% K, 8.1% BB Turner was available and would have been a great option prior to 2023, but he signed for more than I assume the Cubs were comfortable with. He went on to be his usual self with Boston. Even at age 38 he continued with low strikeouts (17.6%) and some power (23 HRs on the year) on his way to another .800 OPS season. Turner would be another bridge option, but I’m not so sure he’s capable of playing 3B anymore at age 39. He had -4 OAA in just 25 attempts in 2023, so he may be more of a 1B/DH at this point. Matt Chapman (31), 3B Stats: .240/.330/.424 (110 wRC+), 28.4% K, 10.7% BB Chapman was everyone’s favorite option prior to the 2023 season, but he struggled a bit with Toronto. After a scorching-hot April, he slashed only .205/.298/.361 with a 30% strikeout rate the rest of the way. The quality of contact (when he did make contact) was fantastic, though. He ranked 98th percentile or better in: Barrel rate, Hard Hit rate, and average exit velocity. The defense is also still very good. Chapman is a very good option for a team theoretically in need of power, but will the power translate? I’d bet on it on a shorter-term deal, but Chapman may end up getting a commitment with which the Cubs aren’t comfortable. José Ramírez See Part Two. Ramirez is such a potentially high-impact addition that he got folded into a different category. 6th/7th Inning Relief A lot of the relief depth options flat-out failed this year, whether that was veterans, guys who broke out during 2022 or young guys from the upper minors. The Cubs need a bit of stability in the middle innings to help bridge the gap to the back end of the pen. A reliable lefty and a righty or two with some upside would be great fits here. The Options Robert Stephenson (31), RHP Stats: 52 1/3 IP, 3.10 ERA, 38.3% K, 8% BB He revamped his arsenal this year, and became a menace with absolutely elite stuff. Hitters managed just a .160 xwOBA on Stephenson's cutter, and .138 on the splitter. Those offerings give him weapons to attack both left- and right-handed hitters. He throws the cutter over 40 percent of the time, and gets 59.9% whiffs on it! Given the short track record, it feels like this one could be a steal and could end up being a really high-leverage arm, potentially even closing. A deal of two or three years at $8-12 million feels right for a guy with a shorter track record, but with elite upside. Reynaldo López (30), RHP Stats: 66 IP, 3.27 ERA, 29.9% K, 12.2% BB It's plus-plus velo (averages 98 mph on the fastball) and a really good upper-80s slider. The walks are a bit of an issue, but López is a solid sixth- or seventh-inning option to really bolster the middle-inning depth and take pressure off guys like Julian Merryweather. Brent Suter (34), LHP Stats: 69 1/3 IP, 3.38 ERA, 18.8% K, 8.6% BB The funky lefty gives a different look and throws hitters’ timing off. Only averages 87 mph on the fastball, but he’s tough to square up (97th percentile or better in Barrel rate, average exit velo, and Hard Hit%). Hunter Harvey (29), RHP Stats: 60 2/3 IP, 2.82 ERA, 28.5% K, 5.5% BB The oft-injured former top prospect finally established himself as a dominant reliever over the last two seasons. He has 98-plus miles per hour on the fastball, with a devastating split that held batters to a .235 wOBA. Cost may not be as much as you think here because of the injury history, but it’s closer upside. Kyle Finnegan (32), RHP Stats: 69 1/3 IP, 3.76 ERA, 21.9% K, 8.3% BB The other Nationals pen arm, Finnegan has premium velo (97.3 mph) without premium swing-and-miss. The splitter is devastating, holding batters to a .190 xwOBA, but the fastball is pretty hittable. It's a solid middle-inning option. Will Smith (34), LHP Stats: 57 1/3 IP, 4.40 ERA, 24.3% K, 7.5% BB The results weren’t great this year, but Smith is hell on lefties, holding them to a .199 wOBA with a strikeout rate just under 30 percent. He gets just 7” of horizontal break on the slider, but held batters to a .151 wOBA on the pitch this year. Enyel De Los Santos (28), RHP Stats: 65 2/3 IP, 3.29 ERA, 23.7% K, 9.5% BB Another fastball/slider guy, De Los Santos got 47.6% whiffs on the slider this year while holding batters to a .210 wOBA on the pitch. It’s not premium swing-and-miss, but he’s extremely tough on righties. Cleveland could be willing to move him as he hits arbitration. Sam Hentges (27), LHP Stats: 52 1/3 IP, 3.61 ERA, 25.1% K, 8.1% BB I absolutely love flame-throwing lefties, and Hentges fits the mold perfectly. It’s 95+ from the left side, with a devastating curve he throws 36 percent of the time. Fun profile and a guy who can get both lefties and righties out. David Robertson (39), RHP Stats: 65 1/3 IP, 3.03 ERA, 29% K, 9.3% BB Our (hashtag) old friend had another good year at 39. The cutter is the money pitch, with a ton of vertical movement. He was vocal about not being happy with being traded at the deadline, so he could come at a discount if he prioritizes pitching for a team he’s familiar with and that he knows will be competitive. Matt Moore (34), LHP Stats: 52 2/3 IP, 2.56 ERA, 27.5% K, 6.9% BB Moore is a reverse-split lefty, due to the plus changeup. He limited batters to a .190 xwOBA on the pitch and he’s 98th percentile in chase rate. Cubs put a claim on him when the Angels cut him loose, so we know they’re at least loosely interested. I’d probably prefer a traditional lefty, but he’s really good. Joe Jiménez (29), RHP Stats: 56 1/3 IP, 3.04 ERA, 30.7% K, 5.9% BB Traditional fastball/slider guy whose fastball gets touched up a bit too often. A 45.7% whiff rate on the slider makes it a great strikeout pitch, but he’s better suited for middle relief, where he’d provide some nice veteran depth. Michael Fulmer (31), RHP Stats: 57 IP, 4.42 ERA, 27.4% K, 11.8% BB Depends on health here, but when Fulmer got right, he was excellent for the Cubs. He generates 16.4” of horizontal break on the sweeper, and hitters had just a .167 xwOBA on the pitch. When his command got locked in, he was borderline unhittable. Shintaro Fujinami (30), RHP Stats: 79 IP, 7.18 ERA, 23.2% K, 12.6% BB "Tommy, why would the Cubs want a guy with a 7.18 ERA?" Velocity is why. Fujinami averages 98.4 mph on the fastball, but the command is very bad. Fun flier to take on a cheap or MiLB deal, if you believe you can harness the velocity. Brad Hand (34), LHP Stats: 53 2/3 IP, 5.53 ERA, 25% K, 9.3% BB Hand is your traditional “tough on lefties” reliever, striking out a third of the lefties he faces. Really not much more to it than that. He can get lefties out, cheaply. Edward Cabrera (26), RHP Stats: 99 2/3 IP, 4.24 ERA, 27.2% K, 15.2% BB He’s a starter, but as a guy who has really struggled with command but has premium stuff. If he gets the command back to 2022 levels, it could be the top-tier starter you need, but if not, he has the stuff to get guys out from the pen. The Marlins may be open to moving him because of their rotation depth, and the fact that he’s out of options. A guy I’d absolutely love to take a shot on as either a starter or a reliever. Aaron Bummer (30), LHP Stats: 58 1/3 IP, 6.79 ERA, 29.2% K, 13.5% BB A traditionally excellent reliever who really had a rough year with a bad White Sox team. He is a ground ball machine who misses bats as well (87th percentile in whiff% and K%). It’s a turbo sinker at 94 mph that generates a ton of ground balls, with a sweeper that held batters to a .210 xwOBA and generated 44.8% whiff. View full article

We know the Cubs want to bring back Cody Bellinger, and we've talked about a bunch of potential starting pitcher targets. Now, let's look at the next-most pressing needs on this roster. In Part One of this series, I talked about the broad salary limitations within which I think the Cubs are working, about the need for them to retain Cody Bellinger, and about how they can upgrade their rotation. Down the stretch, though, we definitely saw some further needs than those that the front office has to address this winter. High-Leverage Relief We all saw the end of the season. The Cubs have some good late-inning options in Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather, but those two need help--A LOT of help. A proven, eighth- or ninth-inning option needs to be added. The Cubs don’t like to pay for it, but now might be the time to do so, either with money or with prospects. The Options Josh Hader (30), LHP Stats: 56.1 IP, 1.28 ERA, 36.8% K, 13% BB The only free agent in this group, Hader is among the best handful of relievers in baseball. While the strikeout and walk numbers backed up for him a bit this year, he’s still absolutely elite at limiting damage. He's in the 100th percentile in expected batting average (xBA); 92nd percentile in Barrel rate; and 91st percentile in Whiff%. He misses bats, and even when guys do make contact, they do little damage. The question becomes would Jed Hoyer ever devote the kind of resources necessary to get an elite reliever in free agency? Hader will be looking for a deal in the $100-million range (akin to the one Edwin Diaz got last year), so I have my doubts. David Bednar (29), RHP Stats: 67.1 IP, 2.00 ERA, 28.9% K, 7.6% BB Bednar was a surprise name connected to the Cubs at the 2023 deadline, but it’s easy to see why they like him. Like Hader, Bednar does a tremendous job of limiting damage; he’s in the 87th percentile in Barrel rate. He’s in the 96th percentile in Chase% and 89th percentile in Whiff%, as well, so he’s missing bats with his 96+ mile-per-hour fastball and devastating splitter. The only reason the Pirates might consider moving him is that he’s entering arbitration, but he would be very expensive to pry loose from the Buccos. I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s a name to monitor. Tanner Scott (29), LHP Stats: 78 IP, 2.31 ERA, 33.9% K, 7.8% BB Scott had an absurd season as the Marlins' closer. He was in the 96th percentile or better in all of the following; Chase%, Whiff%, K%, Barrel% and Hard Hit%. It’s 96 and harder from the left side, and he’s extremely difficult to square up. So why would the Marlins move him? He’s a bit of a pop-up candidate. It’s his first year as an elite reliever, and he’s entering his final year of arbitration, so the Marlins could see it as the time to cash in. Scott would be considerably cheaper than Bednar or Clase in trade, so the Cubs could see an opportunity to add an elite reliever to their pen if they think he can repeat his 2023 campaign. Emmanuel Clase (26), RHP Stats: 72.2 IP, 3.22 ERA, 21.2% K, 5.3% BB Clase doesn’t have the swing-and-miss numbers of the three guys I’ve previously highlighted, but he’s elite at keeping the ball off the barrel. He was 88th-percentile in Barrel rate this year and had a 56.6% ground-ball rate. It may not be elite whiff, but sign me up for 99-mph cutters at the back end of the pen. He signed an extremely cheap extension, so the Guardians may not be willing to move him, but the two teams match up pretty well in trade and there was talk that they were even close to a deal at the deadline for a reliever (not Clase). I expect the two clubs to remain in frequent contact this offseason. Another High-End Bat Nobody is out here saying “we need to match the Braves,” because in reality, that’s damn near impossible to do. But the Cubs offense needs some help. It was a very good unit in 2023, but one that lacked pop at times. When they struggled, they really struggled to hit for extra bases with men on. The long ball went missing at times. Another 130-plus wRC+ guy would do wonders to lengthen this lineup. The Options Shohei Ohtani (29), DH/RHP Stats: .304/.412/.654 (180 wRC+), 23.9% K, 15.2% BB The absolute unicorn. Obviously the injury is terrible, but he might be worth $400 million for the bat alone. It’s the kind of plus-plus power from the left side the Cubs need, in the package of the most marketable man in the history of the sport. Pencil him in at DH and you immediately lengthen your lineup. Not sure I really need to convince anyone here, it’s all about if the Cubs will be willing to take the risk. Juan Soto (25), LF Stats: .275/.410/.519 (155 wRC+), 18.2% K, 18.6% BB Soto is one the game’s best hitters at age 25, and it’s an absolute miracle that he’s potentially available in trade again. The one year of remaining team control and $30-millionish salary should keep his trade cost reasonable. (Look at the Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor trades, as comparisons.) Now, on to the player. Soto has walked more than he’s struck out in his career, while also posting a .240 career ISO. He’s one of the most well-rounded hitters of this generation, and putting him in the two-hole in the Cubs’ lineup would give them a weapon they haven’t had since… 2005 Derrek Lee? Pete Alonso (29), 1B Stats: .217/.318/.504 (121 wRC+), 22.9% K, 9.9% BB Even in a down year, Alonso remained one of the game’s best power hitters. He has a knack for hard contact and finding the barrel, with a 14.8% Barrel rate. Based on David Stearns’ comments in his initial presser, I’m not sure he’ll be available, but we know the Cubs checked in at the deadline, and according to Bruce Levine’s recent report they remain interested. If the Mets and Pete can’t agree on an extension, it wouldn’t shock me to see them move him with one year of team control left. It’s the kind of premium slug the Cubs could really use, so I expect them to check in again. José Ramírez (31), 3B Stats: .282/.356/.475 (123 wRC+), 10.6% K, 10.6% BB An elite all-around hitter known best for spraying the ball to all fields, Ramirez has long been one of the best and most underrated players in baseball. After signing an extension in Cleveland, nobody expected him to be moved but with Tito Francona moving on and a rough season just concluded, perhaps the Guardians would be willing to move him and Ramirez would be willing to waive his no-trade clause. He can still play a solid third base (+5 OAA) and is locked into a very team-friendly deal through 2028. He combines 25-homer power with very little swing-and-miss (94th percentile in whiffs and 98th percentile in strikeout rate). With a big hole at the hot corner, he’d fit right in. The cost here would be enormous given the team control left, but it’s worth checking in on. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (25), 1B Stats: .264/.345/.444 (118 wRC+), 14.7% K, 9.8% BB While he hasn’t quite been able to repeat his 2021 MVP-quality season, Vlad Jr. remains one of my favorite hitters in all of baseball. He doesn’t strike out, and when he makes contact, he tends to crush the ball. He's in the 89th percentile in Hard Hit% and 91st percentile in average exit velocity. He sprays line drives all over the field. He’s a bad defender so it’s probably a DH-only profile, but the Cubs have room to squeeze in a great bat. I’m not positive the Jays even listen on him, but if he won’t extend and they pour more resources into a Bo Bichette deal, it’s possible they’re open to moving their first baseman before he hits free agency. Yandy Díaz (32), 1B Stats: .330/.410/.522 (164 wRC+), 15.7% K, 10.8% BB Like most of the guys on this list, Díaz blends everything you want in a hitter. It’s plus power without much whiff, and with an advanced plate approach. When he makes contact, it’s premium contact (98th percentile in average exit velo and 97th percentile in hard-hit rate). So why would the Rays move him? It’s a cheap contract he’s on, but perhaps the Rays want to sell high. He’s 32 and (like Guerrero Jr.) it’s probably more of a DH profile, but it’s the type of bat the Cubs would kill to have in their lineup. I'm not sure the conversation goes anywhere, but I’d make the call. View full article

The season is over, so let’s dive a little bit deeper into the Cubs’ upcoming offseason and team needs. The org has done a nice job of building up a solid core of big leaguers, but they lack stars across the board. We can start with the top two priorities: starting pitching, and retaining their newfound star. Image courtesy of © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports With a top-five farm system in baseball and plenty of money to spend, the future does look bright. Here are some ways that they can address their top needs this off-season. A couple caveats to start with: Payroll: My guess is payroll will end up in the $250 million range. The end number may be a bit higher or lower, but that’s the vicinity in which I expect things will fall. I don’t think the luxury tax will be a huge impediment if the Cubs feel they need to make certain moves. I also think a Shohei Ohtani deal would still fit and push them outside that number, as teams generally view him as a cash flow positive “asset.” Trades: I’m speculating on potential availability in trades. Some of these guys may not be available, but it’s guys who could theoretically be moved for one reason or another. So, don’t yell at me if you don’t think a guy is available. I’m just trying to dig deep to find guys who would be potential fits. Trade returns: Unless I see a specifically good fit when it comes to the Cubs sending a specific player, I’m not going to speculate on the exact cost to acquire. It’s going to depend on each org’s evaluation of their own guy and specific Cubs players, so it’s pointless for me to try to call out exact returns. These lists are NOT exhaustive--just a selection of guys who I think might make sense. Feel free to suggest your favorite targets! Now with that, let’s get the good stuff! Cody Bellinger You know how important he is. You’ve seen him all year. Some may balk a bit at the contact quality data. While I think there’s some regression due, I’m not overly worried and think we can connect much of that to the two-strike approach. The bat. The flexibility. The personality. He’s the linchpin. Get it done. The Options Cody Bellinger (28), 1B/CF Stats: .307/.356/.525 (134 wRC+), 15.6 K%, 7.2 BB% No explanation needed. You know him. You love him. A No. 1 or No. 2 Starting Pitcher With a solid middle and back of the rotation already locked in, including depth with Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad, the Cubs’ biggest need in the starting rotation is at the front. With a strong need for velocity, stuff and whiffs, the Cubs are after a guy who you can expect and hope is your first or second starter in a playoff series alongside Justin Steele. The Options Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25), RHP Stats (in Japan): 164 IP, 1.21 ERA, 26.0% K, 4.1% BB The crown jewel of the free-agent starter market, Yamamoto is the most accomplished Japanese starting pitcher to come over since Masahiro Tanaka. I expect Yamamoto will exceed the 7 years and $155 million that Tanaka got. While smaller in stature, Yamamoto runs it up into the mid-90s and racks up strikeouts, while walking almost nobody. At 25, he fits the timeline, but with so much money already invested in the rotation, would they want to add another larger-money deal here? Blake Snell (31), LHP Stats: 180 IP, 2.25 ERA, 31.5% K, 13.3% BB The presumptive NL Cy Young winner had an absolutely ridiculous second half. The 31.5% strikeout rate is exactly what the Cubs need in the rotation, but the 13.3% walk rate can be infuriating to watch. Because of the latter, I prefer the Cubs to look elsewhere, but there’s no doubt that Snell is the type of starter that the Cubs could really use. Logan Gilbert (27), RHP Stats: 190.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 24.5% K, 4.7% BB One of the surprise names rumored to be available at the deadline, I wonder if the Mariners continue to look to move an arm in the offseason, when it might be easier to get big-league talent back. Christopher Morel would be a perfect match here, as the Mariners have a big hole at second base and a need for more offensive thump. Gilbert averages nearly 96 on the fastball, and while he doesn’t pile up the strikeouts, he walks almost nobody. The Mariners may prefer to move a more unproven arm, considering Gilbert is still yet to reach arbitration, but I’d at least ask on him. Bryce Miller (25), RHP Stats: 131.1 IP, 4.32 ERA, 22.2% K, 4.8% BB As I mentioned previously, the Mariners may prefer to move a more unproven arm, and Miller fits the bill. Miller also averages 95 miles per hour on the fastball and doesn’t walk anyone, but he’ll need to refine command in the zone and also really lock in a breaking ball in order to take that next step. He’s a bit riskier of a target, but it’s more of a development play than a sure thing. Bryan Woo (24), RHP Stats: 87 2/3 IP, 4.21 ERA, 25.1% K, 8.4% BB Woo is a little less proven even than Miller, but he’s another option for the Mariners to move. The fastball velocity also averages 95, but the walks are higher for Woo. He counteracts that by keeping the ball off the barrel better than Miller. He only throws his slider about 9 percent of the time, so I wonder if integrating it more (nearly 14 inches of vertical break and a .236 xwOBA against) would help Woo take the next step. The biggest question is if he can develop a pitch to neutralize lefties. He just doesn’t have that right now. Like Miller, he’s a big risk to take on if you’re really looking for a front-end guy. I prefer other options to both Miller and Woo, but the bones are there with Woo and I think an arsenal tweak could really unlock him. Jesús Luzardo (26), LHP Stats: 178 2/3 IP, 3.63 ERA, 28.1% K, 7.4% BB A guy with tantalizing stuff who had never really been able to put it all together, he finally did so this year. The fastball is elite, averaging nearly 97 mph, and he pairs it with a wipeout 90-mph slider that generates an absurd 50% whiff rate. Now, why would the Marlins move him after he finally puts it together? They may not. However, they have good starting pitching depth and Luzardo is set to be arbitration-eligible for the second time as a Super Two guy, and will start to get expensive in a hurry. Now may be the time for them to capitalize. Luzardo is one of my favorite starter options for the Cubs. Tyler Glasnow (30), RHP Stats: 120 IP, 3.53 ERA, 33.4% K, 7.6% BB When healthy, Tyler Glasnow is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Emphasis on "when healthy". Glasnow came back this year to throw 120 innings over 21 starts. The fastball averages over 96 mph, and the curve is one of the best pitches in baseball, holding batters to a .139 xwOBA and getting 51.6% whiffs per swing. The extension he signed with the Rays will pay him $25 million next year, in the final year of that deal. That might be a tad expensive for the Rays to keep. It’s a risk to add him, but given the rotation depth the Cubs have, they may be uniquely positioned to take this kind of risk. He’s exactly the type of arm they need in this rotation. Shane Bieber (29), RHP Stats: 128 IP, 3.80 ERA, 20.1% K, 6.4% BB A couple years ago, he might have been at the top of this list, but now he’s more of a cursory mention. Bieber is still very good, but the stuff has taken a step back in recent years. The velo is now at just 91-ish miles per hour, and his strikeouts have ticked down. With Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks both likely back, Bieber probably isn’t a fit anymore, but I felt it necessary to mention him here given the pedigree and the fact that he’s probable to be moved. Aaron Nola (31), RHP Stats: 193.2 IP, 4.46 ERA, 25.5% K, 5.7% BB Nola is another guy who was a much bigger name a year ago. The stuff has also taken a step back here, but I absolutely love the bulldog mentality. The Cubs could use a guy that you can pencil in for 180-plus innings. He’s still quite good, with a K-BB% of nearly 20, and he’s in the 96th percentile for chase rate, but at age 31 and given that he's likely to command $100M or so, would the Cubs want to take that risk, with so many dollars already committed to the rotation? He seems closer to Jameson Taillon at this point in his career than to the top-five Cy Young finisher he’s been in years past. Sonny Gray (34), RHP Stats: 184 IP, 2.79 ERA, 24.3% K, 7.3% BB What a tremendous year for Sonny Gray. He finally put together his first 30-start season since 2019 and did it with an ERA below 3. He upped his sweeper usage this year to over 20 percent, and the pitch has been near-unhittable, with an xwOBA against of just .164 and a Whiff rate over 40%. He does it more with craftiness than blow-you-away stuff, but he’s quite good. At age 34, he’s likely to command a deal similar to what Stroman got a couple years ago, so the length might not scare the Cubs away. I prefer more raw stuff if the Cubs are going to add a starter, but Gray is very good and could fit well. Shōto Imanaga (30), LHP Stats (in Japan): 159 IP, 2.66 ERA, 29.5% K, 3.8% BB The “other” starter expected to come over from Japan, Imanaga is older, and doesn’t come with quite the same pedigree as Yamamoto. However, he actually graded out better in terms of Stuff+ than any starter at the World Baseball Classic. The velo has ticked up to the low 90s, and he can touch 95. I expect him to command a deal close to what Kodai Senga got, and there’s reason to be interested, even if he isn’t at the top of the priority list. Tarik Skubal (27), LHP Stats: 80.1 IP, 2.80 ERA, 32.9% K, 4.5% BB Skubal might have been the best pitcher in baseball in the second half. I doubt the Tigers move him as they look to move into contention, but he’s entering arbitration, so they may consider it. The fastball averages 96 mph and he has an elite changeup that allows him to neutralize righties as well. It was only 80 innings for him this year so he hasn’t put together a full season yet, but the Skubal breakout is here. He’d be expensive, but it’s a call the Cubs need to make to old friend Scott Harris. That's far from being the end of the offseason priority list, but if the team retains Bellinger and adds at least one of the above, they're off to a good start. Next time, we'll talk more about the other things on the checklist. See Part Two of Tommy's offseason outlook series, here. View full article