Here’s why pitching is Cubs’ top priority this offseason

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- There is a non-zero chance that the five-man rotation that the Cubs used at the end of the regular season is gone in its entirety come Opening Day next year. Chicago’s front office may make a push to bring back at least one arm from that group, but the whole cast might very well hit free agency.

That reality, along with the wave of injuries and issues that impacted the Cubs’ starting group in 2026, make rebuilding the rotation this offseason a top priority for the ballclub. That was the message delivered by Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer after his team was knocked out of the postseason following an 89-win season.

“From a pitching standpoint this year, it was sort of a struggle from the get-go,” Hoyer said. “Some of that was based on injuries to some guys we were really counting on. But some of it was based on poor performance, some poor acquisition. And so, I think that’s something we have to look at.”

Let’s run through the Cubs’ pitching situation this offseason:

Free agents
When injuries left the staff extremely thin in late June, the Cubs pulled off a classic change-of-scenery trade with the Mets to add lefty David Peterson. His ability to generate grounders fit well with Chicago’s elite defense, and he ended the season as one of the team’s best-performing arms (1.27 ERA in four starts before the playoffs).

Peterson is set to become a free agent, along with righty Kevin Gausman, who was picked up at the Trade Deadline from the Blue Jays. Gausman had mixed results for the Cubs and finished the season impacted by a left shoulder injury, though he started Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Padres.

Lefty Shota Imanaga is also set to reach free agency for a second offseason in a row after accepting a one-year, qualifying offer last winter. Imanaga had some issues with allowing home runs, but on the whole turned in a solid season for the Cubs in ‘26 (his third season with the North Siders).

Farther down the depth chart, the Cubs also have an upcoming free agent in righty Aaron Civale. Now, Civale was used as a multi-inning reliever under manager Craig Counsell -- excelling with a 1.72 ERA in 18 appearances in ‘26 -- but has mostly worked as a starting pitcher throughout his career.

Contract options
The Cubs also have a group of starters who can reach free agency via options:

• Lefty Matthew Boyd: $15 million mutual option ($2 million buyout)
• Righty Clay Holmes: $12 million player option
• Righty Colin Rea: $7.5 million team option ($1 million buyout)

Boyd was an All-Star in ‘25 and the Cubs’ Opening Day starter in ‘26, taking the ball in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, too. Behind the scenes, he is revered as a great teammate and leader. While his ‘26 season was interrupted by mid-summer surgery on his left knee, he was solid across the board once again for the Cubs.

Holmes was picked up at the Deadline from the Mets and had mixed results in his two-month tenure with the team. That said, his exceptional ground-ball rate and reputation behind the scenes made him a great fit with Chicago. Boyd, Holmes and Peterson all seem like strong candidates for the Cubs to push to keep.

The veteran Rea has been a valuable piece of Counsell’s innings puzzle for the past two seasons, making 46 starts and 20 relief appearances across ‘25-26. The question for ‘27 is whether the Cubs feel they can fill that type of depth role at a lower cost.

Returnees
Behind the arms listed above, the Cubs’ internal options consist of Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Edward Cabrera, Braxton Garrett and Justin Steele. One tier down at Triple-A Iowa, lefty Jordan Wicks has MLB experience and prospect Jaxon Wiggins (Pipeline’s No. 6 Cubs prospect) is among the farmhands on the radar.

There is also righty Cade Horton (runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year in ‘25), but he is on the comeback trail from right elbow surgery. Horton should be an option in ‘27 (in the first half, if everything goes well), but it is hard to make any firm predictions.

Similarly, Steele did not pitch in the Majors in ‘26 while making a comeback from elbow issues and Brown saw a promising season end in June due to a neck injury. Cabrera was sidelined multiple times between a leg injury and blister issues. Garrett (acquired from the Marlins at the Deadline) returned to action in ‘26 after elbow issues of his own.