The Chicago Cubs’ offseason plan is expected to tilt toward pitching, but that doesn’t mean the lineup is going to stay recognizable. In fact, with Carson Kelly, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Conforto, and Tyrone Taylor all set to hit free agency, the starting nine could look very different by the time 2027 rolls around.
That’s the tension for Chicago: the rotation and staff figure to get the spotlight, yet the offense may need work too. The Cubs finished as the best offense in baseball this year, so a step back in 2027 wouldn’t automatically mean disaster. Still, there’s room to improve, and the club should have a path to doing that without completely abandoning the idea that pitching remains the top priority.
A way-too-early look at the Cubs against right-handed pitchers has Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off in center, followed by Alex Bregman at third, Trevor Larnach in left, Michael Busch at first, Joc Pederson at DH, Nico Hoerner at second, Miguel Amaya behind the plate, Matt Shaw in right, and Dansby Swanson at shortstop.
The biggest additions in that look are Larnach and Pederson. Larnach would come over in a theoretical trade with the Minnesota Twins, and the fit is built around a platoon plan in the corner outfield spots.
He was almost moved at the deadline, and Minnesota is expected to talk trade again this offseason. Against right-handed pitching, he posted a 131 wRC+.
Pederson is the other notable piece, and this one comes with a reunion angle. His mutual option for 2027 points toward free agency, and while this is more of a fun prediction than a firm read on the Cubs’ thinking, the logic is simple: if Suzuki, Happ, and Conforto are gone, Chicago has to find someone who can help replace the power. Pederson supplied that in 2026, when he hit 26 home runs for the Rangers.
The left-handed pitcher version looks a little different. Crow-Armstrong again starts in center, but Hoerner moves up to the two spot, Tyrone Taylor slides into left, Bregman stays at third, Shaw handles right, Pedro Ramirez gets the DH nod, Busch remains at first, Swanson stays at short, and Amaya catches.
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Jed Hoyers Biggest Cubs Problem Could Finally Look Very Different
Even with the Cubs still sorting through the current pitching picture, the longer view is starting to take shape. Much of the rotation picture for 2027 will depend on what happens over the next couple of winters, and the front office has made it clear that pitching remains the priority area for offseason resources. Jed Hoyers staff has already spent plenty of time weighing recent performance, trades and the health of the organizations pipeline as it looks for a more stable foundation on the mound.
By the time 2027 rolls around, the rotation could look very different from what Cubs fans are used to seeing now. The projections include names such as Sonny Gray, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera, a mix that reflects both present-day planning and the reality that several current arms are headed for free agency. If the Cubs land even part of that group, Hoyers biggest roster problem could start to feel a lot less daunting than it does today. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Are Headed For A 2027 Roster Squeeze Fans Can't Ignore
The Cubs are already staring at a busy winter on the horizon, and the early look ahead to 2027 only makes the calendar feel more crowded. MLB Trade Rumors latest projected salaries show Chicago with 12 players from its 2026 roster heading into arbitration eligibility, a reminder that the front office will be juggling not just talent decisions but cost control as well. Javier Assad is part of that picture, with the club expected to decline his $3.3 million option before likely trying to bring him back at a lower price.
Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown all figure to be part of the conversation as the Cubs try to sort through a roster that could get expensive in a hurry. Ethan Roberts is another name worth watching, though his case looks less secure because of injuries and performance concerns. For a team trying to keep its pitching depth intact without boxing itself in, the squeeze could arrive sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Jed Hoyer Faces A Familiar Cubs Trap In This Pitching Search
The Cubs are once again hunting for rotation help, and the market is already offering the kind of names that can look tempting in November and troublesome by July. Shane Bieber, Casey Mize and Bryan Abreu all fit the broad profile of pitchers who still carry pedigree, but each comes with warning signs tied to health, diminished stuff or both, which is exactly the sort of gray area Jed Hoyers front office has tried to navigate before.
Biebers recent track record raises questions about whether he can get back to the level that once made him an obvious target, while Mizes declining velocity and Abreus drop in fastball life and rise in walks point to more uncertainty than certainty. For a Cubs club that needs stability, the challenge is not identifying talent, but resisting the familiar urge to bet on upside when the safer move might be to pass and keep searching. [Read more 🡒]