The Chicago Cubs are building a much better team this offseason than they’ve had in years past. While they might still be off from the Los Angeles Dodgers, their roster should be good enough to win the NL Central.
Edward Cabrera and Alex Bregman are huge additions and will help the Cubs turn into a serious World Series contender this year. But the Cubs might not be done just yet.
According to Bruce Levine of 104.3 The Score, he believes there’s a chance that the Cubs will be landing Zac Gallen this offseason, adding another frontline starter to a much-improved rotation.
Insider reveals interesting Cubs-Zac Gallen rumor
When asked who the Cubs’ best pitcher would be until Justin Steele returns, Levine said, “Oh, that’s easy: Zac Gallen. Talking to the people who usually want this stuff out there… Gallen and the Cubs have always been connected since early December.”
The Cubs finding a way to bring Gallen to Chicago would be a wild offseason outcome. They already have a strong rotation, but it could get even better if this deal comes to fruition.
What makes this rumor from Levine so compelling is the conviction with which he claims that Gallen will be the Cubs’ ace until Steele is back.
Not only is this a good sign for a possible Cubs-Gallen contract, but that he believes Gallen will be the team’s ace once/if he does sign on.
While they normally might not have been interested in Gallen, the circumstances, with Gallen still a free agent this late in the process, have made the Cubs more interested than before.
“And the idea that he is still out there without a contract,” Levine said, “and a quality starting pitcher who will have to take a three-year deal of some sort with some type of ability to get out of it after the first or second year, this might fall right into the Cubs’ lap.”
Adding Gallen to this rotation would make for a very deep group. Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and Jameson Taillon make up the current five-man rotation.
That group doesn’t include Steele, who will return at some time this season. It also doesn’t include long reliever/spot starter Colin Rea, and potentially Gallen.
The Cubs could have a strong 7-man rotation this upcoming season if they sign Gallen. Such a situation isn’t likely to stick, as the Cubs could then trade one of their pitchers for prospects or help elsewhere on the MLB roster.
But, if nothing else, this rumor from Levine is very interesting. Acquiring Gallen would be a very fun addition, and hopefully, for Cubs fans’ sake, this deal can come to fruition this offseason.
