MLB Insider Views Cubs As Perfect Landing Spot for Ace Pitcher

The Chicago Cubs are viewed as the perfect landing spot for the Tampa Bay Rays ace.

The Chicago Cubs have had a slow start to the offseason. After making Craig Counsell the highest-paid manager in MLB history, they haven't been able to make another big splash.

The Cubs missed out on Shohei Ohtani and new reports indicate that they aren't willing to get into a bidding war for Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Chicago, however, understands that this team needs to be better. If they want to get to the place they want to be, they need more talent. There are plenty of options to make them better this offseason and it's expected that they do look at some of these options to do just that.

Thomas Harrigan, an MLB.com insider, believes the best fit for the Cubs is Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow.

"The Cubs made waves earlier this offseason when they signed manager Craig Counsell to a five-year, $40 million deal, but they’ve been quiet since and still need to replace free agents Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman. Chicago’s rotation has a sturdy foundation -- Steele finished fifth in the NL Cy Young race, Taillon bounced back from a rough first half to post a 3.38 ERA over his final 16 games (15 starts) and Hendricks looked like his old self in his return from a shoulder injury -- but it needs more swing-and-miss potential. With that in mind, Glasnow is an ideal target. The right-hander has posted a 12.2 K/9 since joining the Rays in 2018, and he ranked in the 95th percentile with a 35.2% whiff rate in ‘23. Of the Cubs hurlers listed, only Smyly (59th) placed higher than the 33rd percentile in whiff rate this past season."

Harrigan notes that Chicago's rotation needs to find a piece to replace Marcus Stroman. He's correct in that assessment, which is why Glasnow becomes the perfect piece. 

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rays are discussing a trade that would send Glasnow and Manuel Margot to the Los Angeles Dodgers. if that's the case, this would be another missed opportunity for the Cubs.