The Cubs' pursuit of a top-line starter took President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer to Dallas on Monday to meet with free agent Yu Darvish, according to multiple reports.
Darvish, 31, is considered one of the top two starters on the market, along with Jake Arrieta, and is likely to command one of the biggest deals of the offseason.
The Cubs were interested in Darvish when he came over from Japan in 2012 but were outbid by the Rangers.
Darvish went 10-12 with a 3.86 ERA in 31 starts in 2017 with the Rangers and Dodgers but suffered through a dismal World Series in which he went 0-2 with a 21.60 ERA in two starts.
The Cubs are looking at several starting options, including free agent Alex Cobb, who worked with new pitching coach Jim Hickey in Tampa. Arrieta remains a long shot as his price tag may still be too high for the Cubs. There has been little movement in the market for the top free agents, though the Cubs' trip to see Darvish suggests the pace is picking up.
