The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching. They need to bolster their rotation due to injuries and to maintain depth, and are determined to find and add a frontline pitcher. Look for them to consider free agents and/or trades.
Playoff Exit Last Season
Chicago wants to add more to its starting rotation. This comes after a playoff exit due to their inadequacies. They defeated the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round but lost the NLDS to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games. Injuries to key starters, particularly to rookie Cade Horton, late in the season were an obstacle the team could not overcome.
Injuries to Starters
The Cubs suffered injuries to their starters. The ACE of the staff was Justin Steele. He started with three wins in April, but underwent a season-ending UCL surgery. During the season, Javier Assad suffered an oblique strain, causing him to miss time. Shota Imanaga sustained a left hamstring strain in May and was on the IL until late June. Even Jameson Taillon missed time, suffering a left groin strain in August. While all were healthy for the playoffs, the burden and struggle with pitching depth were apparent.
Free Agents
The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching, especially a top-tier starter. They will consider free agents or trades to address it. There are many starters still out there to sign or available via trade. However, the team will face intense competition and a dwindling market for elite free agents, as most teams seek the same. The holiday season has ended and they need to respond quickly to get a proven starter.
Trades Still an Option
If they find the free agency market for starters is too high, trades are still a viable option. Their Farm sytem is currently ranked nineteenth in MLB.com’s rankings. They could have to part with outfielder Owen Caissie, catcher Moisés Ballesteros, and pitcher Brandon Birdsell. These three players are among the top 10 of Cubs prospects.
Star Japanese Pitcher
Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai is going to sign an MLB contract soon. Look for him to get a significant contract. The Cubs are considered to be one of the teams pursuing him. His posting window closes on January 2, making a significant international signing even more critical.
Return of Justin Steele
Justin Steele will not be ready for the start of the 2026 season. His current target return date is sometime in May. Even then, he will still need time to get into game shape, both mentally and physically. If they sign at least one free agent starter, it will improve the starting rotation and give Steele time to return to form. Acquiring Imai would be a bonus.
More Reliable Rotation
We can expect the Cubs front office to make significant moves to build a stronger, more reliable rotation for the 2026 campaign. How they accomplish this overall is still a wait-and-see. However, time is of the essence at this point. They want a set roster heading into Spring Training in February 2026.
