Phil Rogers's post on Chicago Cubs | Latest updates on Sulia

Given the organizational need, the Cubs could sign four free agent starters, with Carlos Villanueva and Edwin

Jackson in the pipeline behind the one-year deals for Scott Baker and Scott Feldman. Villanueva, 29, is on the verge of agreeing to a one-year deal and that is not expected to end the Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer pursuit of Jackson, who is reportedly down to the Rangers and Cubs after the Padres bowed out of the bidding. My friends in Texas say it's unlikely the Rangers will go to even two years guaranteed for Jackson, so the Cubs might be able to land him for two years, with possible team and/or mutual options in play. If the Cubs do land both Jackson and Villanueva, they'll have seven experienced starters under contract for 2013, although both Matt Garza (elbow injury, no surgery) and Baker (Tommy John surgery) will be rehabbing after injuries in spring training. Right-hander Michael Bowden has pitched well as a starter in winter ball but the Cubs see him more as a swing man candidate than an option for the rotation.