I am reading that because of the CBA, there are top tier pitchers that would be willing to do one year deals. This would be amazing if true. The Cubs could really load up, and the benefit of a one year deal is flipping them if the Cubs can't make the playoffs.
Imagine loading up on Stroman, Rodon, Syndegard, etc.... You can easily pay them way too much money and have it work out long term.
Stroman should get a term deal. 5/135 should be the starting point
I honestly see Jed going here and targeting Marcus because it makes a statement. This is not about a rebuild. This was a remodel.
If Jed signs Marcus then finds a way to remove Heyward. Gets Davis MLB ready for RF.
Payroll wise adding Stroman would put payroll around 100M. If they go 150M that opens up a short term lefty a pen vet and a decent bat.
Let's just look at it for a second.
Rotation:. Let's say 40M here.
Stroman
Hendricks
Let's say Pax on a 1 year.
3 way battle Thompson, Azolay and Mills
Steel.
Pen. I would stick at the 10M range
2 losers from the #4 battle.
Wieck & Morgan LH pen arms
Wick & Heuer RH set up.
So they need a closer.
Jed closed out with pitching will be the #1 priority and I can see him being aggressive on this front.
Now hitting, they will need a starting quality SS. Corry Seager is still my #1 hope. They will need a LH bat core hitter. Happ has too much instability to be dependent on.
So in short.
Dump Heyward. Push Davis to RF ASAP
Sign Stroman 25 AAV. then Seager 25AAV
sign a short term closer and short term LHSP. This is more of a value signing. Cubs have talent pending here and it makes sense to keep it short term and flexible.
So we are talking 4 guys and 70M added. With Nico freed up it puts PA's on him in the OF until Davis promotes then he shifts to a sub.
Over all this team is decent and should get better as talent breaks through. Not to mention plenty of trade depth for a run.