With season over, Cubs can work on beefing up starting rotation
In an informal chat with reporters Monday before Game 3 of the National League Division Series, Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein talked about the strengths of the four teams remaining in the postseason.
Epstein acknowledged the Cubs' impressive group of young position players. He raved about the Kansas City Royals' athletic ability. He noted the Toronto Blue Jays' long line of veteran power hitters.
Epstein did not forget about the New York Mets, specifically their "four ridiculous young starting pitchers."
The Cubs saw them all in the NLCS. They saw Matt Harvey in Game 1 and lost. They saw Noah Syndergaard in Game 2 and lost. When the series shifted from chilly Citi Field in New York to balmy Wrigley Field, the Cubs saw Jacob deGrom in Game 3 and lost.
And, finally, they saw Steven Matz in Game 4 Wednesday night and lost again while being swept out of the series.
The Cubs' season is over following the four-game sweep, and while they were outplayed in every phase of the game by the Mets, New York's superior starting pitching was the biggest difference.
"When you have young pitching with power arms, the thing that impresses you the most are the strikes," Mets manager Terry Collins said after Harvey, Syndergaard, deGrom and Martz combined for 29 strikeouts in 25 innings while limiting the Cubs to 6 runs on 15 hits.
Piling up one good young hitter after another since joining the Cubs in October 2011, it is pretty obvious what is on Epstein's to-do list this off-season.
He needs to add at least one proven starting pitcher, possibly two, and don't be shocked if the number swells to three.
Although the offense never fired against the Mets in the NLCS, give the Cubs credit for making it as far as they did with only two reliable starters - Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.
Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel, who was hammered by New York in Game 4, combined to pitch 4 playoff games and they allowed 12 earned runs on 16 hits in 13 innings. Dan Haren, who the Cubs acquired in a July 31 trade from the Marlins, was not even on the playoff roster and he retired after the Game 4 loss.
"He had a special career," Kyle Schwarber said. "It's sad to see him go."
Epstein can trade for rotation help this winter, but don't be surprised if the Cubs opt to sign a free-agent arm or two.
Last December, Lester joined the Cubs on a six-year, $155 million contract. This year, the Cubs are rumored to be interested in free agent lefty David Price, who will likely command even more money than Lester.
Price played for Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay, so there is a natural link.
If Epstein and his staff are looking at cheaper options, Jordan Zimmerman is going to be on the market and makes sense after five straight solid seasons with the Washington Nationals.
"I would like to think it is going to be a brilliant future," catcher Miguel Montero said. "Whatever moves they make are going to be for the benefit of the team. They are pretty good doing that job, so whatever they do I'm sure it will improve the team."