When they were selling everything, I really didn't give a **** about Lester, but now I'm just dumbfounded.
Current rotation
1.) Hendricks
2.) Davies
3.) Mills
4.) Alzolay
5.) ???
Guess who fits in perfectly? Jfc. Even if the Pederson signing is to trade him as a rental at the deadline, they could've done the same with Lester! What the **** are they doing? Either suck ass or be elite. No in between.
We already know they are tanking this season, this roster is not built to win right now even with some bargain level deals and they will be making more trades at some point to dump salary or guys they can't afford to keep long term.
I said it earlier at the very least they need to sign 2 proven veteran SP that can eat up innings at the back end of the rotation. Mills and Alzolay have never pitched a full season of games as a starter in their careers and given Alzolay has battled injuries already in the minors it's pretty foolish to think they can just add some marginal and unproven cheap arms to fill a 4th or 5th spot and make it through the season OK. Injuries are going to happen, after Hendricks and Davies we have no one on the roster right now I have faith in to stay healthy and/or productive enough to start 30 games and eat up at least 6+ innings most days. Mills looked good last season but was that a blimp or a sign he can be a legit everyday guy? If I was given a bet now on if he makes 25+ starts over a 162 game season I would take the under on that and probably under 20 if given the same bet with Alzolay.
Bleacher Nation likes to throw out random thoughts that don't always have much for confirmed interest or sources but they are suggesting possible reunions with Arrietta and the Shark are possible
Lukewarm Stove: Shark or Arrieta for Cubs? Mets/Dodgers Battle for Bauer? Hader Asking Price? Arenado Dreaming? More | Bleacher Nation Archer, Folty, and Rodon are possibilities too. Really any of those guys to fill out the backend of the rotation on a 1 year deal needs to happen as it's obvious they will not break the bank on anyone expensive. If they wanted to take on the risk signing Bauer to a 1 year deal with the intent to flip him at the deadline for some top tier prospect would be a way to bring in some prospects but would also come at the expense of having to eat a little bit of salary to do it which the FO obviously is not going to do based on the moves they have made so far.