Commentary: What the Cubs REALLY need at trade deadline |
With all due respect to my writing colleague Ken Allison at CubsHQ.com, the Chicago Cubs do not need another starter.
The trade deadline is for positioning yourself for a long playoff run not for finishing the regular season. Once the playoffs start teams only need three starting pitchers with a fourth as a swingman in case of a problem. The Cubs have three starters as Jon Lester is your guy for game one, game four, and game seven. Kyle Hendricks is going to be game two and game five. From there you decide Cole Hamels or Jose Quintana for game three and game six and put the other guy in the pen for an emergency situation. The bullpen is where things happen in the playoffs and the Cubs still need some veteran guys out there. It all depends on Brandon Morrow. If he gets healthy and can come back as the closer, then things aren’t so bad but twice on the DL already scares me. You can never have enough talented bullpen guys. Right now, the Cubs also are lacking consistent run scoring, and, in the playoffs, you don’t face any No. 4 or 5 starters. Another strong bat would be very welcome especially if he has an above average defense. Giving up key players for another starter is a waste of talent right now, and the Cubs do not need another No. 4 or No. 5 guy since they have about six of them already.
