Cubs Potential Starting Pitching Target Signs With Kansas City Royals

It would be fair to say the Chicago Cubs have had a disappointing offseason so far and there is real pressure mounting on this front office to make a major splash and requisite upgrades needed before 2024 starts.

After all, it was ownership and the front office who decided to be aggressive in their pursuit of Craig Counsell. They felt they would be able to build a playoff contending roster for the elite manager to work with during the Winter.

Cubs fans might have been thinking it, but it was those parties who executed this vision under their own fruition.

Yet, despite their proclamations, Chicago has whiffed on Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Tyler Glasnow.

Any of these three players would have been enough to generate buzz.

But, two of them are now with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one with the New York Yankees, fellow large market teams who have been ultra-aggressive.

Well, now a lesser-known starting pitcher who the Cubs could have pursued is also off the market, after Michael Wacha signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Kansas City Royals according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The 31-year-old is coming off two of his best seasons with the Boston Red Sox in 2022 and San Diego Padres in 2023.

Across 47 starts for both teams combined, he posted a record of 25-6 with an ERA of 3.27 across a total of 261 2/3 innings pitched. His 127 ERA+ suggested he was 27 percentage points better than league average.

Wacha would have been a solid option for Chicago in their rotation that is missing a true top option. While the right-hander likely wouldn't have been their ace, he would have provided good innings for a team needing rotation help.

Now, with him off the board and heading to another team, the options for who the Cubs can sign to be a difference maker continues to shrink.