The Chicago Cubs are losing nearly their entire starting rotation to free agency. 

Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, David Peterson, and trade deadline acquisitions Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are all unrestricted free agents. 

That puts Jed Hoyer in a tough spot. This may be the defining offseason of his time as president of baseball operations with the Cubs. 

If there's one thing Chicago's rotation is missing this offseason, it's an ace. The Cubs could be one of the top landing spots for Tarik Skubal, but are they willing to spend the money? 

ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the Cubs could shy away from the potentially groundbreaking contract Skubal could secure this winter. 

"The Chicago Cubs badly want Skubal. They also are skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get -- well in excess of $300 million, potentially in the $400 million-plus range," Passan wrote. 

There's likely no way of knowing how far the Cubs would be willing to go before backing out of the Skubal sweepstakes. 

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Besides Chicago, Passan listed the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets as the top two contenders for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. 

The Dodgers and Mets are comfortable handing out big contracts. Especially Mets owner Steve Cohen, who signed Juan Soto for $765 million two offseasons ago. 

Expect to see the Cubs in the mix for Skubal, but they'd be a long shot to land him if they aren't willing to be the highest bidder. 

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