Ok a few things, the Cubs have a pretty solid rotation right now. I understand the sample size on Arrieta is small but his stuff can't be questioned, the big issue is durability at this point. I'm not thrilled at Hammell at 3 but aside from a shaky start in Oakland last year you can argue he belongs there. Hendricks at 4 is a nice place for a young pitcher who showed a lot of grit last year. I have to admit I wasn't sold on him but read some scouting reports on this kid and you'll change your mind. I didn't bring up #1 because Jon Lester is a veteran stud. Now here's the best part; there are 5 guys vying for 5th starter in Jacob Turner, Travis Wood, Edwin Jackson, Felix Doubront and Tsuyoshi Wada. All 5 have started before but of course all have some negatives. Competition is a positive. Ideally you'd like a left hander to win the job but we'll see. My point is starting pitching is at least above average and the Cubs issues haven't been pitching. I will agree that this is not a playoff rotation but where are the guarantees this team is even fighting for a playoff spot? I see reasons to be hopeful but we're not there yet. How about letting Kris Bryant take a pitch before trading prospects for a not quite need or indulging in the mental gymnastics of trading guys Ruben Amaro has no interest in.
Amaro is going for broke, in his position I would do the same thing. Boston has a greater need than Chicago and just put themselves in a greater position to negotiate. What if Clayton Kershaw were to go down for LA? Think they might come closer to Amaro's price? He's not yet in a hurry because a deal that doesn't get Philly back close to competing fast (say mid 2016) gets him fired. That what he promised his bosses and it's not looking good. Making no deal gets him fired. So what's his incentive right now? My best guess is that he gets until mid May at which point his team will be at the bottom of the NL and the natives will be restless. If one his scenarios comes true maybe he trades Hamels and saves his job by then, but I doubt it. By the deadline a new guy is in charge and is looking, much more realistically, at a longer term rebuild. By then maybe a less top heavy package is attractive to Philly or maybe there are more attractive trades out there if the Cubs are in this thing.
Bottom line is that is a near certainty that that the Cubs will not be parting with Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler or Kyle Schwarber anytime in the next year. It's also unlikely that Javier Baez, CJ Edwards or Albert Almora get traded any time before July and even after that is questionable although I'm sure they'll listen if pitching is a need. They didn't build up this asset pool to deplete it before knowing all the strengths and weaknesses they might have while approaching contention. You also have to look at the Division. Pittsburgh looks very strong going into Spring Training, if the season started tomorrow they'd be my pick to win it. St. Louis are who they always are albeit with some questionable pitching health. How do the Cubs stack up? I'd say we have very little idea overall but I would say that top to bottom, rotation and bullpen, the Cubs have better pitching than either. In terms of hitting Pittsburgh looks like a beast, St. Louis not far behind and the Cubs? Well they could be too but the jury is out and that's the key. Lots of questions and pitching is down the list. Listen, if the Cubs are 5 games or more over .500 at the All Star break, Soler and Bryant are battling it out for RoY and Rizzo is chasing MVP lets talk about trading prospects for pitching. Until then they bide their time, listen for good opportunities and let this team gel into what it's going to be.
