What the Cubs’ options around Kyle Hendricks and Marcus Stroman mean for the team

Chicago Cubs officials carefully select their words when discussing Kyle Hendricks. Chairman Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer have made it clear that Hendricks will be returning for his 11th season at Wrigley Field. Hendricks, the last remaining player from the 2016 World Series team, has a $16.5 million contract option that the Cubs are expected to exercise. Although there were doubts about Hendricks’ health and effectiveness last year, he had a strong season and proved himself as a reliable starting pitcher. While the Cubs failed to make the playoffs, they want to build a team that has experience in pitching during October. Ricketts stated that he expects Hendricks to return, while Hoyer praised Hendricks as a valuable teammate and expressed the desire to keep him on the team. Hendricks has expressed appreciation for the organization and trusts that the right decision will be made regarding his contract.

The Cubs also have Marcus Stroman in their rotation plans for next year, as he is expected to take his $21 million salary rather than explore free agency. The Cubs will evaluate their options for free-agent pitchers and look for deals that improve their pitching staff and offensive lineup. They aim to have an experienced and versatile rotation that can handle the demands of a full season. The projected rotation includes Hendricks, Stroman, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Drew Smyly, Hayden Wesneski, Ben Brown, and Cade Horton. There is a reliance on the development and performance of young pitchers like Steele, Assad, Wesneski, Brown, Wicks, and Horton. The Cubs believe that committing to one-year deals with Hendricks and Stroman gives them flexibility in their plans and a less daunting task compared to other teams that need to add multiple starters this offseason.

The Cubs recognize that other teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants will also be active in the starting pitcher market. To compete with these teams, the Cubs need to add star power to their lineup. The return of Stroman to the rotation in 2024 opens up opportunities for the Cubs to focus on offensive and bullpen upgrades this winter. The organization has a deeper pool of pitching talent than in previous years, which allows them to be creative and opportunistic in trades and free agent negotiations. Stroman’s previous success in Chicago and his positive experience with the coaching staff and atmosphere at Wrigley Field make him likely to perform well in a contract year. Despite his struggles in the second half of the season, Stroman’s contributions in the first half were crucial to the team’s success. Hoyer acknowledges the importance of having quality pitching and believes you can never have enough of it.

Overall, the Cubs are committed to building a competitive team that combines experience and youth. They value Hendricks and Stroman as key contributors to their rotation and aim to add offensive power to their lineup. The organization’s focus on pitching development and its depth of pitching talent provide them with opportunities to make strategic moves in the offseason.

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David Rodriguez

David Rodriguez brings the excitement of Major League Baseball to readers. With a deep appreciation for America’s pastime, he covers the latest MLB news, scores, and player achievements, keeping fans up to date with their favorite teams and players.