Don't expect the Chicago Cubs to drop an absurd amount of money in free agency this offseason. 

The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma reports the NL Central club will take a careful approach this offseason because of uncertainty over a potential lockout. 

"The Cubs have shown no interest in spending like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets," Sharma wrote. "This winter, one in which labor negotiations muddy the waters for teams and their finances, won't be an exception."

Essentially, that would take the Cubs out of the race for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the best player available this winter. 

Sharma added that the Cubs "will at least check in on every other free-agent pitcher."

Without a doubt, Skubal is the best starting pitcher available, and the Cubs could lose several key members of their pitching staff, including Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga, and Kevin Gausman. 

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But the Cubs aren't willing to pay the price it might cost to land a starter of his caliber. This may be very frustrating for Chicago's fanbase. 

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projected Skubal's contract to be $352 million over eight years. That would be the richest contract for a pitcher in Major League history. 

Instead of Skubal, the Cubs could target free-agent arms like Freddy Peralta, Michael King, Trevor Rogers, or backend options like Robbie Ray and Zac Gallen. 

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