Jed Hoyer Thinks Cubs May Need to Add Starting Pitching Depth

Earlier this season we wrote about the Cubs lack of starting pitching depth. It’s fairly obvious that the options are limited if an injury occurs. What’s more, is that the Cubs will need to start looking towards what the future will look like beyond 2017, when the Arrieta, Lackey and Hammel contracts are set to be over.

Cubs General Manager, Jed Hoyer, via CSN Chicago, had some interesting insights, “We’ll keep evaluating where we are and what we need,” Hoyer said Monday at Busch Stadium. “As far as the starting-pitching market, there are a lot of things that are going to happen. Teams are going to fall out of contention. Teams are going to get into contention. So I don’t think it’s quite the time yet where that’s crystallized at all.

“But obviously we’ll keep monitoring it, keep studying it. We’re aware that pitching in general is something that every team needs around the deadline. And I’m sure we’ll be in that group.

“We’ll keep working hard to figure out where it’s going to come from.”

So far this season the Cubs starting pitching has been stellar, touting a 2.54 ERA which is good enough for tops in the Majors ahead of the second ranked Nationals, who trail by a wide margin, at a 3.05 ERA. But is evident that Jed and company realize there is a need coming up soon. Don’t be surprised to see the Cubs make a move prior to the trade deadline, and, further, you should be less surprised if that move is for a pitcher that’s not currently on anyone’s radar.