David Price might not be in the cards for the Chicago Cubs. For that matter, neither may Zack Greinke. In an admission that caught a lot of the baseball world by surprise, head of baseball operations, Theo Epstein said that the Cubs would have to get creative if they were going to sign a big time free agent. Given, the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be big players in pursuit of both free agent, they might price Zack Greinke and David Price out oft the Cubs range.
In an article for ESPN online, Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers wrote, '"We have the ability to add a little bit from where we are right now," Epstein said. "I don't think we have room to do everything that's been speculated in some areas.'
'His comments come on the heels of general manager Jed Hoyer saying the Cubs will add via free agency "within reason" and the Cubs will focus their monetary assets on pitching. After that a player like Ben Zobrist is more likely to be a Cub than Jason Heyward."
Instead of Price, buzz and new speculation has centered around the Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann, former Cub Jeff Samardzija and St. Louis Cardinal John Lackey. There's also some level of mutual interest between the Cubs and Jeff Samardzija and Jordan Zimmermann, two pitchers with strong roots in the Midwest who will cost a draft pick. Samardzija won't return to the White Sox after a disappointing season and will decline the one-year, $15.8 million offer. The ex-Cub has a good relationship with pitching coach Chris Bosio and loves pitching on the big stage in front of the bright lights. Zimmermann came out of a Division III program - the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - and made himself into a two-time All-Star with the Washington Nationals."
