Originally posted on 09/20/2014:

Quote Originally Posted by pacocn View Post
How's their pitching going to be?
Arietta and Hendricks are both very good, young and under team control. Travis Wood might still be OK, and then there are a slew of maybes. They need to augment, but it doesn't take that much from here to put together a solid rotation. Payroll is comically low, so there is no reason they can't go out and spend in FA on an arm or two. Say they go out and sign Lester, and Wood has a better season and Bosio turns around Turner or Doubront:
1. Lester
2. Arietta
3. Hendricks
4. Wood
5. Turner/Doubront

Could be very good.

Cubs don't have a ton of top young pitching prospects, yet, and none ready next season, but they have a few interesting ones not too far away, specifically: C.J. Edwards, Pierce Johnson and Jen-Ho Tseng.

Edwards came over in the Garza trade and has utterly dominated the minors, when he's been healthy. The most amazing stat is he's allowed just 2HR in 237 IP (and a 1.86 ERA) - not even sure how that's possible. He's very skinny though, so durability could be an issue.

Bullpen has a bunch of very good arms.

Yes, the Cubs are not far away from contending - not far at all.