For years, the Chicago Cubs have been cautious spenders when it comes to big-ticket pitching contracts. In fact, they’ve only crossed the $100 million threshold for a starting pitcher twice in their history - the last time being Yu Darvish’s six-year, $126 million deal back in 2018.
But that conservative approach might be shifting.
With the free-agent market heating up, the Cubs were reportedly in the mix for Dylan Cease before bowing out once the price tag surged past $200 million. Cease ultimately landed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays - a contract that includes deferred money, something the Cubs have traditionally steered clear of.
Still, the fact that Chicago was even in the conversation signals a change in philosophy. Team president Jed Hoyer has made it clear: pitching is the priority this winter.
That’s a stark contrast from how the Cubs have operated in recent offseasons. In the past, their pursuit of starting pitching was driven by necessity - a direct result of the organization’s struggles to develop arms internally. If they wanted rotation help, they had to either spend big or swing bold trades.
Now, the landscape is a little different. The farm system still isn’t overflowing with pitching depth - beyond top prospect Jaxon Wiggins, the cupboard is relatively thin - but for the first time in a while, the Cubs have a homegrown arm making a real impact at the big-league level. And his name is Cade Horton.
Horton finished as the runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year, and it’s not hard to see why. His second half was electric, the kind of stretch that makes you believe the Cubs might have found their next frontline starter.
“If he would’ve thrown a few more innings, he would’ve had a real chance at that award,” Hoyer said.
The Cubs were careful with Horton’s workload, managing his innings with an eye toward October. Unfortunately, a broken rib cut his season short just before the playoffs, robbing him of a chance to showcase his stuff on the national stage. But what he did down the stretch was enough to turn heads inside the organization - and across the league.
Over his final 12 starts, Horton posted a jaw-dropping 1.03 ERA. More importantly, his peripherals backed up the performance.
Early in the season, he was striking out just 17.5% of batters while walking 7.3%. In the second half, those numbers jumped to 23.5% strikeouts and just 6.5% walks - a clear sign of growth and command.
“I felt like I settled in during the second half and came into my own,” Horton said.
That transformation didn’t happen overnight. A rough outing in Houston - seven earned runs in four innings - served as a turning point.
Horton didn’t crumble; he got to work. He tweaked his mechanics, expanded his pitch mix, and came back stronger.
Each start after that showed more polish, more poise, and more power.
“I can do what I did in the second half,” he said, looking ahead to 2026. “Go out there and win games for my team. That’s really my main focus.”
Of course, there will be skeptics. Some will question whether the late-season strikeout surge is sustainable. Others will point to his home-road splits - a 1.63 ERA at Wrigley Field versus 3.59 on the road - and wonder how much Chicago’s wind played a role.
But dig a little deeper, and the numbers tell a more complete story. Only two of Horton’s six second-half home starts were significantly impacted by favorable wind conditions.
And after that blow-up in Houston, his road ERA was a tidy 2.08. That’s not a mirage - that’s a pitcher figuring it out.
No one’s expecting a full season of sub-2.00 ERA dominance - that’s rare air. But there’s no denying Horton took a leap forward in 2025. And the Cubs believe he’s just getting started.
“I don’t know what the next version is going to look like exactly,” Hoyer said. “But one of the things he does exceptionally well is make changes.
He’s a great athlete, and he’s got a real ability to adapt. As the league adjusts to him, he’ll adjust right back.”
That adaptability was on full display this year. Mechanical tweaks in the offseason helped Horton recover the velocity he’d lost during an injury-riddled 2024.
His four-seam fastball - which features a unique cutting action - was back to being a weapon. Pair that with his sweeping slider, and you’ve got the foundation of a nasty arsenal.
But Horton didn’t stop there. As the season progressed, he leaned more on his changeup, and it paid off. He also started using his two-seamer more frequently - a pitch he barely touched in the minors or early in the season - and it quickly became a difference-maker.
“His ability to evolve was really special,” Hoyer said.
And it’s not just the stuff. Horton’s makeup is earning rave reviews inside the clubhouse.
Coaches and teammates praise his work ethic, his competitiveness, and his ability to bounce back. He’s got the tools the modern game demands, and the mentality that old-school scouts still crave.
Still, the Cubs know they’re not done. Horton is a huge piece of the puzzle, but he can’t carry the rotation alone. Injuries to Horton and Justin Steele exposed the team’s lack of depth in the postseason, and Hoyer knows reinforcements are needed.
But having Horton in the fold changes the equation. A few years ago, the Cubs were shopping for pitching without any internal support. Now, they’ve got a rising star on the mound - and that gives them options.
“I’m going into the offseason continuing to work and find ways to get better,” Horton said. “Going into spring training, we have something to prove.”
And if his second half was any indication, Horton is ready to lead that charge.