The Chicago Cubs are set to rebuild their starting rotation this offseason following Shota Imanaga's decision to decline his player option and enter free agency. With limited options exposed during their National League Division Series run, the team eyes reinforcements for a deeper 2026 playoff push. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer highlighted the need for more pitching depth after injuries impacted the postseason.
By the time the Cubs reached the National League Division Series, manager Craig Counsell’s options for his rotation were limited. Rookie Cade Horton was out with an injury, Shota Imanaga was struggling, and several other arms were in the bullpen. Veterans Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon were asked to do the heavy lifting.
The Cubs declined Imanaga's three-year team option worth $57.75 million, which would have kept the 32-year-old lefty through 2028. Imanaga then declined his one-year, $15.25 million player option, forgoing a potential two-year, $30.5 million guarantee that included a 2027 option. He is now eligible for a one-year qualifying offer valued at $22.025 million for 2026. If extended and declined, the Cubs would receive draft-pick compensation, as only 14 of 144 players have accepted such offers since 2012.
“That’s probably the biggest takeaway for me,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said after the season. “For the marathon part of the season, I thought we were a really good team in a really good position. Obviously at the end, I think with some injuries and just the nature of the series that we played, I think there was probably some depth that we could’ve used on the pitching staff.”
Without Imanaga, the rotation includes Boyd ($17 million) and Taillon ($18 million) under contract. Colin Rea could join if the Cubs pick up his $6 million team option after logging 159 1/3 innings last season. Justin Steele, an All-Star and NL Cy Young contender in 2023 and Opening Day starter in 2024, is arbitration-eligible after earning $6.55 million in an injury-shortened 2025, limited to four starts before elbow surgery. He resumed throwing in October and aims for an early return.
Pre-arbitration options include NL Rookie of the Year finalist Cade Horton, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks. Prospect Jaxon Wiggins, ranked No. 67 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, is poised for a potential major league debut.
For alternatives, the Cubs explored trades last summer but balked at prices involving Horton and third baseman Matt Shaw. Potential targets include Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, Joe Ryan from the Twins, and MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals. Free agents like Dylan Cease—a former Cubs prospect traded in 2017 for Jose Quintana—Framber Valdez, Michael King, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen, and Merrill Kelly are available.