The Cubs head into the 2020 offseason with some major needs on their roster. Although the bulk of the 2019 team remains under contract, there are several openings in the bullpen created by the pending free agency of Pedro Strop, Brandon Kintzler and Steve Cishek. There is also at least one question mark in the starting rotation, as Cole Hamels is a free agent as well. Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Will Smith would all be slam-dunk signings for the Cubs to solve their pitching issues. However, regardless of how you feel about their strategy, the team has made it clear they [don't expect to spend](https://dawindycity.com/2019/10/30/chicago-cubs-ricketts-spend-offseason/) on big free agents for the second consecutive year. Let's look at five free-agent pitchers who could fit the Cubs' frugal offseason plan. ## Craig Stammen The Cubs have some young talent projected to end up in their bullpen next season, but at least one veteran reliever is needed. Craig Stammen may not be the sexiest name, but he fits that description and should come at a cheaper price than others on the market. Stammen has been a full-time reliever since 2011 and has tossed 498 1/3 innings over that stretch with a 2.93 ERA. Over the last three years with the San Diego Padres, he has an 3.06 ERA with an average of nearly a strikeout per inning and 80 innings thrown per season. His strikeout numbers decreased in 2019, which is something to watch. But Stammen will be 36 next year, and MLB Trade Rumors [projects](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/) he'll get a two-year contract worth just $10 million. __Also read__: [2020 World Series odds](https://www.betchicago.com/2020-world-series-odds-astros-favorites-al-nl) ## Chris Martin Chris Martin is an interesting story. A shoulder injury forced him to give up baseball at an early age, but he rediscovered the magic and made his big-league debut at 28 years old in 2014. Martin split the 2019 season between the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves, throwing 55 2/3 innings with 65 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA and just five walks. There is some risk here, given Martin has little track record and will be 34 in 2020. But at two years and $14 million, and an average of 96 mph on his fastball, the Cubs could find a role for him in the late innings. ## Drew Pomeranz It wasn't that long ago that left-hander Drew Pomeranz was having a whole lot of success as a starting pitcher. In the two-year span of 2016-17, Pomeranz compiled a 3.32 ERA in 344 1/3 innings over 62 starts with the Padres and Boston Red Sox, earning an All-Star nod. But things fell apart for him in 2018 and early in 2019, forcing a move to the bullpen. As a reliever for the Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, Pomeranz was exceptional. He struck out 50 batters in 28 2/3 innings, posting a 1.88 ERA and holding left-handed batters to a .509 OPS. He'll be 31 in 2020 and is projected to score a two-year, $16 million deal. ## Alex Wood The only starters the Cubs have etched in stone in for 2020 are Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish and Jon Lester. They've picked up their option on Jose Quintana, but there's a moderate chance he could be traded. There's also Tyler Chatwood, but handing him a rotation spot is risky. If the Cubs are going to go get a starter on the cheap, one option could be left-hander Alex Wood. The 28-year-old has missed time due to injury in his career, and a lower-back issue limited him to just seven starts with the Cincinnati Reds in 2019. But Wood has a 3.40 ERA in his seven-year career, including a 2.72 ERA in 152 1/3 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. Among the 25 left-handed pitchers with at least 600 innings pitched since the start of the 2014 season, his 3.43 ERA ranks No. 8. Nobody knows exactly how Wood will bounce back in 2020, but a one-year, $8 million deal would be low-risk and high-reward. And if for whatever reason he's unable to pitch, Chatwood could be the backup plan. ## Kyle Gibson If the Cubs decide to go with a lower ceiling and a better chance at getting a full, healthy season from a free-agent starter, Kyle Gibson could be their man. The 32-year-old right-hander has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Twins, posting a 4.52 ERA over the course of seven seasons with 7.0 K/9. The numbers aren't impressive, sure, but Gibson brings stability. He has averaged 30 games started and 173 innings pitched per year going back to 2014, and he has a 4.42 ERA over that stretch. Gibson is projected to get a two-year, $18 million contract in free agency, and it's largely due to his less-than-stellar performance in 2019. He had a 4.84 ERA in 160 innings, despite posting a career-high with 9.0 K/9. Barring an unforeseen disaster, Gibson would be a lock to give the Cubs around 30 starts and 170 innings. They could do worse than Gibson as their No. 4 starter. __Bookmark us__: [MLB betting coverage](https://www.betchicago.com/mlb-betting)