CHICAGO -- Free agency is underway and among the topics in this week's Cubs Inbox.
Cole Hamels pitched well. Yu Darvish was a bust due to injuries. Mike Montgomery isn't a starter. Will the Cubs' rotation be addressed in a serious manner for 2019? So many comeback wins were due to ineffective starting pitching creating deficits.
-- Dan G., Sanford, Fla.
You could find out this week whether Hamels will return. Making sure the Cubs have enough starting pitching depth is the top priority this offseason and Hamels made a good impression when he joined the team for the stretch run. The Cubs are expected to try to bring Hamels back -- he has a $20 million option for 2019 (and a $6 million buyout that the Rangers would be obligated to pay). The lefty, acquired from the Rangers, was 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts with the Cubs.
:: Submit a question to the Cubs Inbox ::
The Cubs have until Friday to decide whether to pick up Hamels' option, as well as the options on relievers Pedro Strop and Brandon Kintzler. The Cubs are likely to try to keep Strop, who was 6-1 with a 2.26 ERA in 60 games and has a $6.25 million extension. They may not be as interested in keeping Kintzler, who has a $10 million team option. The right-hander posted a 7.00 ERA in 25 games after he was acquired from the Nationals.
Starting Monday, the Cubs have an exclusive five-day window to negotiate with their own free agents. That list includes infielder Daniel Murphy, catcher Bobby Wilson, and pitchers Jesse Chavez, Jorge De La Rosa, Jaime Garcia, and Justin Wilson. Chavez, who had a 1.15 ERA in 32 games with the Cubs, has said he wants to return and De La Rosa impressed with a 1.29 ERA over 21 innings in 17 appearances. Both could be back.
• Cubs may consider re-signing Murphy
Regarding Montgomery, I wouldn't be so harsh. He saved the Cubs when he subbed for Darvish, who was limited to eight starts because of injuries. Montgomery posted a 3.69 ERA in his 19 starts and a 5.13 ERA in his 19 relief appearances.
Kristopher Bryant has declined each of the last two years and at the end of the season this year, he looked pretty helpless. Can he rebound to his 2016 numbers and hit 40 homers again or has he peaked and is on the decline?
-- Dale L., Dubuque, Iowa
Bryant, 26, had to deal with a left shoulder injury that forced him to adjust his swing, and the Cubs feel an offseason of rest will help him regain his form.
"He's learned a lot from the time he missed," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "This is a guy who played every single game in high school, every single inning in college and just about every single game the first three years of his career. This is the first time he's dealt with injury and adversity. He's challenging himself to make something positive about it.
"This is someone who will put the work in physically, mentally, to have a monster year next year."
I'd bet on Bryant.
Why doesn't Kyle Schwarber get more respect? His OBP and OPS place him at third or fourth on the team and his outfield assists ranked second in MLB. What more must he do to be recognized as a good ballplayer and not a potential DH?
-- Jack L., Oregon City, Ore.
Part of the criticism is because of his .238 batting average and 140 strikeouts (which was tied for 17th most in the National League). Schwarber's outfield play has improved, but he's got a career line of .282/.352/.628 in 20 games as a designated hitter (which doesn't include his .438 batting average as a DH in four postseason games). That makes him very attractive to American League teams looking for sluggers.