Analyzing the Cubs’ rotation going into 2021

The Cubs’ roster situation is in flux right now, and it’s still to be determined what direction the team will go in the offseason.

The Cubs have a variety of things to address, but they do have a strength they can build upon in 2021 and beyond.

The combination of Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks at the front of the rotation can match up with any duo in baseball. Darvish, who finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting Wednesday, is a bona fide ace, and Hendricks has shown he can be one, as well.

With Darvish and Hendricks locked in as the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 starters, strengthening the back of the rotation could turn the pitching staff into a solid foundation for long-term success.

There weren’t many surprises for the Cubs this season, but one big one was Alec Mills. After being a swingman in 2019, Mills took advantage of the opportunity to be the fifth starter after the injury to Jose Quintana.

While the numbers aren’t eye-popping for Mills (5-5 with a 4.95 ERA and a 5.44 FIP), he did provide the back of the rotation with stability, going five innings or more in eight of his 11 starts. He also gave the Cubs their brightest moment of 2020, tossing the franchise’s 16th no-hitter in a game against the Brewers.

Right-hander Adbert Alzolay got his first real opportunity to show what he could do at the major-league level in 2020 and opened eyes pitching in the rotation and out of the bullpen. He went 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in six games (four starts). Alzolay’s work at the Cubs’ alternate site was apparent as the development of a slider paired well with his four-seam fastball. Both Alzolay and Mills should have an opportunity to compete for a rotation spot in 2021.

“I think going into the year, we were hoping that Adbert could develop into a major-league starter, and now we see one,” team president Theo Epstein said last month. “And he’s somebody I think is prime to slide into the rotation, and that still leaves at least one open spot and the need to add some depth moving forward.”

The Cubs likely will look outside the organization for depth, as well. Free agents Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman both signed their $18.9 million qualifying offers from the Mets and Giants, respectively. While there are still several intriguing names available, such as Corey Kluber, Jake Odorizzi and Anthony DeSclafani, one name stands out from the others.

Right-hander Chris Archer hits the market after the Pirates declined his $11 million option for 2020. Archer, 32, has hit a rough patch over the last few years and has looked like a shell of himself with the Pirates. The right-hander was 9-17 with a 4.70 ERA over the last two seasons.

The former Cubs farmhand and two-time All-Star underwent surgery to relieve symptoms of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and missed the 2020 season. Archer would be a project for pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, assistant pitching coaches Mike Borzello and Brad Mills and the pitching lab, who would try to get Archer back to his pre-2018 success.

Due to his recent procedure, the right-hander won’t break the bank, which will be a factor for all 30 clubs this winter. If his medicals check out, Archer would be a worthy bounce-back candidate to take a flier on.