Corbin Burnes Could Be Answer to Cubs' Pitching Woes Amid MLB Free-Agent Rumors

To say the 2024 season did not go according to plan for the Chicago Cubs would be an understatement the size of the historic five-year, $40 million contract given to manager Craig Counsell last November.

A lackluster May and June doomed the team to mediocrity, while so-so deadline deals for Isaac Paredes and Nate Pearson failed to spark its on-field production.

Now, while others look to the postseason, one of baseball's most storied franchises looks to the offseason and what moves it can make to better itself and compete for a World Series title in 2025.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reported the team will look to add starting pitching to a rotation that already includes the likes of Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks and Justin Steele.

Imanaga led the team in wins (15), strikeouts (174), and ERA (2.91) while no other starter had an ERA under three. Hendricks allowed 86 earned runs, and Javier Assad allowed 63 walks, 22 more than the second-most on the team, neither of which are promising stats.

While the report does not mention prospective free agents by name, one to keep an eye on is Corbin Burnes.

In his debut season with the Baltimore Orioles, the 29-year-old tallied a 2.95 ERA across 189.1 innings, with 172 strikeouts and his fewest earned runs (62) since his Cy Young season in 2021.

Burnes has been great for Baltimore. And if the Orioles win the pennant, his contributions will be a key reason they made it that far.

Still, general manager Mike Elias has not signed a free agent to a multi-year deal since assuming his role in 2018, creating real questions about the organization's willingness to start now.

History suggests potential suitors have as good a chance at signing Burnes for 2025 and beyond as the incumbent team, which bodes well for the Cubs. So, too, does the player's history with Counsell.

The four-time All-Star became one of the game's premier pitchers under the former Brewers skipper. He won the top pitching award in the game, became a legitimate ace and had the opportunity to continue his career with a World Series contender.

Should the Cubs be interested, the opportunity will exist to reunite with his former manager and deliver the city of Chicago a winner for the first time since the 2016 season.

Considering the Cubs only had two 10-game winners in Imanaga and Taillon, they should explore every possible option to improve their rotation.