First, the dots. The Cubs nearly traded for Tyson Ross at the deadline in 2015. Jed Hoyer has said that the Cubs will pursue both bullpen and rotation help and that they’ll specifically target guys who may have had “some bumps along the road.” After being non-tendered by the Padres while recovering from an October surgery to relieve thoracic outlet sydrome, the cost to acquire the former top-of-the-rotation starter no longer includes players. Finally, the Cubs are in need of a new Ross after losing David to retirement.
Gosh, when you put them that close together you almost don’t even need to draw lines to connect them.