Mooney floats the option of Mikolas as a 5th starter option for the Cubs, though whether he has a source of just read that here is anybody’s guess.
Interesting. Plate is same size and distance in Japan, so if he was good there he may be capable here, too?
Wonder if they might not be intending to bring in a couple of candidates, actually, rather than kind of committing to one? That only works if you aren't enslaved to keeping them. 3-4 guys, let the best man win is fine; but you've got to be willing to deal with the losers. Non-roster, no commitment, nothing lost? Non-roster, send to minors for a while?
Health question, send off on a rehab for a while? Major league contract, but cheap enough that no hesitation to eat it and cut guy? Or maybe guy is good enough that even if he doesn't win April rotation spot, you've got a spot in the bullpen for him?
Maybe they scout Mikolas favorably enough to just commit to him as #5 and that's it. But I guess I'm kind of thinking if they do sign somebody like that, he might be one of a handful of options. Thought I've seen Buchholz mentioned, for example, certainly you'd not sign him and have him as the only guy. But with several candidates, maybe you get lucky and one of them kills it in rotation and another one ends up being really good in relief.