MLB Free Agency: Why the Chicago Cubs Will Sign Zack Greinke Next Winter

The Chicago Cubs have had a great winter. So, it's good to know that the Cubs can have an even better 2013 offseason if they build on this year's success and sign Zack Greinke.

Why Greinke? Fellow top free agent starters Cole Hamels and Matt Cain would be great additions as well, but neither of them are likely to come to Chicago.  

Cain appears likely to eventually re-sign with the San Francisco Giants, perhaps even later this offseason. The Giants love Cain, need him, and have the money to sign him long-term, so that one is likely to get done.

Hamels appears to be at odds with Philadelphia over contract numbers, but isn't it a bit hard to see the Phillies letting him go when Halladay will be 35, Cliff Lee 33, and their entire infield is one injury away from retirement. He may be expensive and their payroll is high, but they are not going to let their one young, performing player go when the rest of their roster could crumble at any moment.

That leaves Greinke. The Brewers would love to sign him long-term, but they wanted to sign CC Sabathia back in 2008. They wanted to sign Prince Fielder this offseason, but failed. The Brewers will have to lock up Shawn Marcum also, having given up future star Brett Lawrie for his services. So, it looks like Greinke will be left to the Cubs.

Chicago will have a huge sum of money to spend in free agency in 2013 and 2014. With Carlos Zambrano, Marlon Byrd and Ryan Dempster coming off the books, the Cubs will be young, improving, and cheap. With the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Rangers and Tigers all maxed out on payroll after their recent splurging, the Cubs will be the best destination for impact free agents.

Greinke will also fit the Cubs' biggest need moving forward. Chicago recently signed Gerardo Concepcion and has young Trey McNutt and Hayden Simpson in the minors. Both Concepcion and McNutt should eventually be mid-rotation starters, possibly in 2013. The Cubs also have a No. 2 starter in his prime, Matt Garza, and late-starting options in Dempster (to be re-signed), Chris Volstad, and Travis Wood.

What they don't have is a bona fide No. 1 starter. Greinke can fill that void, which is why they will sign him next winter.

In fact, Chicago may have enough money to sign two impact free agent starters next year. With the weakness in the market because of recent overspending, the Cubs will be in play for Cain, Hamels and Greinke, depending on who signs and extensions and who does not.

Cubs fans, can you imagine a rotation of Hamels, Greinke, Garza, Wood and Concepcion? The North Side would be partying like it's 2003!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. After a great offseason, the Cubs will be in a strong bargaining position next year. We'll see what they can do with that.