And though the likes of Soto and Burnes are likely out of reach, more modest free-agent options could align with the Cubs. Travis d’Arnaud, the veteran catcher with 14 rounds of playoff experience, is on their radar. So is Roki Sasaki, the dynamic Japanese pitcher who might become available to MLB clubs this winter.

If the Cubs are able to add a top-end starter, they would instantly have one of the best rotations in all of baseball. While free agents Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and Max Fried would be ideal targets for the Cubs, they could also settle for someone from ...

‘‘With a guy like him, it’s not goodbye,’’ Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. ‘‘I would be quite shocked at some point when he’s done pitching if he’s not working for the Cubs in some capacity or around the ballpark a lot.’’

And I just love talking baseball, talking pitching, especially with the young guys,” Hendricks continued. Kyle Hendricks dedicated his entire major league career to the Chicago Cubs, where he posted a 97-81 record and a 3.68 ERA across 270 starts and six ...