This past offseason was a busy one for the Chicago Cubs. The signing of Jon Lester and trades for Dexter Fowler and Miguel Montero showed that the Cubs were ready to improve the big-league club. It was a huge step forward from the fire sale tactics of the past few years. The Cubs have clearly taken the right steps to becoming contenders. However, their pitching is keeping them from being a serious contender this season.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are no longer looking to sell, unless you still see Starlin Castro as expendable, which is why there are so many rumors of the Cubs acquiring quality pitching at this year’s trade deadline. The Cubs have considerable prospects to offer in potential trades for top of rotation pitching. The core of young players is set for the most part with Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, and either Javier Baez or Castro.

It seems like anyone outside of those names is likely to be included in a major deal for a Cole Hamels or any New York Mets pitcher, save for Montero and Fowler who have a short-term future locked up on the North Side.

The Cubs don’t have to give up prospects right now. Finishing the year with what they already have is going to be a great way to see just how much longer the path to a World Series will be. Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel have proven to be reliable. Although the back end of the rotation is a mess, the Cubs can definitely be worse.

Regardless if the Cubs finish the 2015 season with a playoff berth or not, the free agent pool of pitchers looks to be deep enough to make the Cubs significantly better next year. David Price, Jordan Zimmerman, Johnny Cueto, and potentially Zack Greinke will be on the open market. The Cubs wouldn’t have to give up any players to get those players. Keeping the core together while building a scary pitching staff is the best way to get a World Series back in Chicago.

A trade for young pitching would be the most effective deal that Hoyer can make. Young pitchers like Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard, and Julio Urias would be the very best-case scenario. Trading away prospects for that caliber of pitching would help both teams out in the long term. Unless the Cubs can get Hamels or make a shocking deal with the Chicago White Sox to acquire Chris Sale, there’s no need to sell the farm for veteran arms.

The Cubs would be wise to hold off on a trade for a pitcher they can get “for free” during free agency. It would hurt to get a rental on Cueto and then be haunted by Albert Almora or Baez in the future. Ultimately, Epstein & co. might make some minor moves to bolster the rotation that just might be enough to keep pace in the Wild Card race. The Cubs still aren’t where they want to be but they’re only going to get better. It still looks like next year is the year to look forward to.