With the conclusion of the MLB Draft on Wednesday, plenty of reporters have speculated that there would be increased bidding for free agent pitchers Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel.

Both players have compensatory first-round draft picks attached to their name, but those compensation picks are dead and gone as the first round has already concluded. Thus, any team is free to sign either Kimbrel or Keuchel without repercussions.

Earlier this morning, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Chicago Cubs were getting aggressive in their pursuit of Kimbrel.

And according to MLB Network Insider John Morosi, Chicago may actually be the front runners to land the lockdown closer.

Kimbrel would be a welcome addition on the North Side of Chicago. The Cubs had gone into the 2019 season with Pedro Strop as their closer, and the expectation that Brandon Morrow would return to the role once healthy.

However, Chicago's lack of bullpen depth and persistent hamstring injuries to Strop have resulted in a “committee” situation in the ninth inning, which has hardly yielded positive results. The Cubs have the third-worst save percentage in the MLB, just behind the Mets and Kansas City Royals.

Team chairman Tom Ricketts had been insistent that the Cubs simply did not have money to spend in the offseason, but Kimbrel could fill a glaring need for a team that once again looks like a contender in the National League.

There is a real possibility that the Cubs could ink the current ERA+ leader to a one-year deal at a higher annual value, allowing Kimbrel to prove his value and re-enter the free agent market this winter.