MLB Rumors: Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson on Cubs 'Radar' amid Search for Rotation Help

The Chicago Cubs have pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson on their "radar" in case injuries arise after the team "ramped up" for spring training, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney.

Despite the Cubs remaining relatively healthy, they are searching for rotation help as they head to Japan to open their season in Tokyo against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18-19.

Lynn has bounced around the league over his 13-year career, playing for six different organizations after starting out with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, where he spent seven years.

The 37-year-old free agent finished last season back with the Cardinals, posting 109 strikeouts, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.338 WHIP over 117.1 innings.

Gibson–also a free agent–has pitched for five different teams over his 12-year career, including a stint with the Cardinals alongside Lynn last season. The fellow 37-year-old posted 151 strikeouts, a 4.21 ERA and a 1.350 WHIP over 169.2 innings.

With the opening game quickly approaching, it is unknown whether either veteran will be ready to go on such short notice, despite both having been "throwing regularly," per Rosenthal and Mooney.

In addition, Rosenthal and Mooney noted that some clubs are asking pitchers to sign a 45-day advance-consent form, which can only be requested for players with five or more years of Major League experience. The contract allows teams to terminate the agreement within the 45-day window for any reason except injury, while compensating the player only for the time spent on the roster.

"Veterans who provide advance consent generally lack leverage. But with each new injury, the leverage for Lynn and Gibson is rising," Rosenthal and Mooney wrote.

With injury reports emerging from Arizona and Florida during Spring Training, stemming from the Yankees' Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, teams are looking to stack their rotation ahead of the season.

The Cubs currently have their top four starters healthy and ready to go in Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd and are not in a position to offer Gibson or Lynn any guarantees for a rotation spots despite their desires.