The Cubs are interested in pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Shaun Marcum, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The team has freed up a lot of payroll, but it isn't expected to go on a spending spree during free agency. Instead, the Cubs are looking to buy low on rebound candidates. General manager Jed Hoyer pointed to the acquisitions of Paul Maholm and David DeJesus last winter as a good model for what they will try to do this year. Both players struggled with injuries the season before the Cubs signed them.
Both McCarthy and Marcum have been mentioned as players the team is considering. McCarthy was limited to just 111 innings due to injuries but performed well when healthy. He had a 3.24 ERA and a 3.76 FIP last year with the Athletics.
Marcum missed time with an elbow injury and was held to just 124 innings last year. He had a 3.70 ERA and a 4.10 FIP for the Brewers. Cubs manager Dale Sveum and pitching coach Chris Bosio are very familiar with Marcum, whom they worked with in Milwaukee.
Though the team’s trade for Dan Haren fell through, he could still be a free-agent option if he comes cheap, according to Wittenmyer. Haren is another bounce-back candidate. He struggled with a back injury last season and posted sub-par numbers.
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