While the Cubs look likely to bring back largely the same position player core in 2020, the pitching staff handed to first-year manager David Ross and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy suffered significant losses since the end of last season.
Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek and Brandon Kintzler all departed via free agency, along with left-handed starter Cole Hamels. Hamels inked a deal with Atlanta, while Cishek joined the crosstown White Sox. To this point, both Strop and Kintzler are still available – but with the Cubs’ focus on getting under the competitive balance tax threshold, it’s a long shot either returns on anything but a minor league pact.