"The Cubs as a franchise are deserving of something nice this holiday season, perhaps a top-line pitcher like Zac Gallen or Michael King. Maybe the heralded Japanese hurler Tatsuya Imai? There are all kinds of big-ticket gifts Jed Hoyer could shop for at the Winter Meetings in the Orlando, and just about all of them could make them the envy of their division rivals in the National League Central."
"As words that resonate more in this time of year, the late, great Biggie Smalls once rapped, "No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us." Just like B.I.G. didn't want to be left out of the holiday cheer, Hoyer and hit front office, wish to deliver a memorable gift to the North Side of Chicago. They don't want to miss Christmas; they want their opponents to swing and miss."
"Bob Nightengale missed the mark with Cubs fans, erroneously reporting the team was finalizing a deal with Gallen, the 30-year-old former Cy Young contender. It was a surprising move for a team that tends to favor reclamation projects like Matthew Boyd. While no deal is close as Gallen appears to be more of a secondary option despite what Bruce Levine reported were "several serious meetings," the righty is one of a handful of targets that will make the Cubs serious World Series contenders in 2026."
The Chicago Cubs aim to add a top-line starter at the Winter Meetings to upgrade the rotation and become serious National League Central contenders. Target names include Zac Gallen, Michael King and Japanese hurler Tatsuya Imai, each capable of elevating the pitching staff. Erroneous reporting about a finalized Gallen deal created fan confusion, but Gallen appears to be a secondary option amid multiple targets. Market dynamics changed after Dylan Cease's seven-year, $210 million contract set a high-spending precedent. The Cubs weigh immediate postseason contention against longer-term labor uncertainty ahead of 2027.
Read at Cubsinsider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]