Report: Cubs & Orioles Both Looking To Make The Same Upgrade
According to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, the Cubs have been monitoring free agents Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, having previously discussed a deal with Andrew Heaney before he signed with the Pirates.
While their rotation remains mostly intact, Javier Assad’s oblique injury could leave them relying on Colin Rea, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, Caleb Kilian, or Cody Poteet to fill the fifth starter spot.
With the team traveling to Japan for the Tokyo Series, an accelerated spring training schedule has prompted them to keep an open mind about potential additions.
For the Orioles, the urgency is greater after Grayson Rodriguez was placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
This comes after the team lost Corbin Burnes in free agency, leaving them with Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Dean Kremer as their primary starters.
Manager Brandon Hyde suggested the final rotation spot is between Albert Suárez and Cade Povich, but adding a veteran could provide much-needed stability. Mooney reports that the Orioles are "clearly exploring additions," though they haven’t been directly linked to Gibson or Lynn yet.
The free-agent market has cooled significantly, with veterans like Jose Quintana and Heaney signing well below initial projections.
Mooney notes that clubs are now asking unsigned pitchers to sign 45-day advance-consent forms, which allow teams to cut players for non-injury reasons while only paying them for time spent on the roster.
Lynn and Gibson, both 37, have been throwing regularly to stay ready, but their leverage remains uncertain. “Even teams relatively deep in starting pitching constantly scour the market for potential upgrades,” Mooney wrote, as injuries continue to reshape the landscape.
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