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Report: Cubs see Brett Anderson as fit after striking out on Ross

Lance Iversen / USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs didn't land the pitcher they had hoped to when right-hander Tyson Ross instead agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Jan. 13, but Theo Epstein and Co. appear to have a backup plan.

Chicago is continuing to evaluate free-agent pitching and believes left-hander Brett Anderson is a possible fit, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.

The Cubs had reportedly been weighing the idea of using a six-man rotation next season to help rest the arms of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, and John Lackey - who all pitched deep into the postseason; Anderson could be part of this process along with projected fifth starter Mike Montgomery.

PITCHER IP* AGE
Jon Lester 235.1 32
Jake Arrieta 219.2 30
John Lackey 201.1 38
Kyle Hendricks 213.1 27
*postseason combined

The market for the 28-year-old southpaw has been quiet throughout the offseason after he made 31 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015, but was forced to miss all but four appearances last season following surgery to repair a bulging disk in his back.

Over the course of his career, the former second-round draft choice owns a 38-43 record with a 3.86 ERA across 127 appearances - 115 starts, while missing plenty of playing time with an assortment of injuries, including a stress fracture in his foot and two surgeries on his back.

He earned $15.8 million for the Dodgers last season after accepting a qualifying offer from the team.

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