Cubs fans wondering about Cade Horton’s 2027 return need to brace for a longer wait than some might want to hear.
That’s the core message here: Horton is not someone to pencil in as an early-season answer. The Cubs aren’t expected to offer a fresh update until spring training next year, or whatever the ramp-up looks like for the 2027 season if there is no spring training next February. Until then, the best guide is still the timetable the team gave when Horton had Tommy John surgery on April 16.
That estimate was 15-16 months.
Run that clock out, and the most optimistic window puts Horton back in July or August of next year. But there’s another layer to this, and it matters.
The Cubs’ handling of Justin Steele this past season suggests they may lean even more cautiously with Horton. Steele was viewed by some as a relatively straightforward return, but he never threw a pitch for the Cubs in 2026.
The original target had him back by the first week of June, and even that proved too hopeful after a setback changed everything.
That’s the trap some Cubs fans may be falling into again: assuming a top-of-the-rotation arm will be back on schedule and ready to roll with no surprises. With Horton, the injury and recovery path are different than Steele’s, and recoveries rarely move in a straight line anyway.
So while July or August sits in the best-case range, the more realistic expectation could be September if everything goes smoothly. The big takeaway is simple: don’t count on Horton as an expectation for the 2027 season.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Exploit A Weird Market With One Aggressive Payroll Move
November could get unusually busy on the trade front, and the Cubs are the kind of team that can take advantage if that market really starts to move. With free agency looking thin and the possibility of a work stoppage hanging over the sport after Dec. 1, clubs may be more willing to discuss players they would normally prefer to keep, especially if those players carry bigger salaries. Chicago, meanwhile, has enough payroll flexibility to at least be in the conversation for that kind of deal.
That creates an intriguing opening for a front office still looking for star-level upgrades, particularly if a rival decides to make an expensive name available. The Phillies, Braves, Reds and Marlins all fit into the class of teams that could be asked about in that kind of environment, but the larger point is what this strange November market could mean for the Cubs. If Jed Hoyer wants to get aggressive, this may be the stretch when payroll room matters most, even if nothing is close to done yet. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Are Running Out Of Time To Define Miguel Amaya's Future
Miguel Amaya has put himself in position to be part of the Cubs next chapter, and his 2026 season gave the club reasons to believe in him. He was slightly above average at the plate and behind it, enough to keep him in the mix as an arbitration-eligible catcher projected to make $1.7 million, and the expectation is still that hell be in Chicago in 2027.
The question is what role hell actually hold when the roster settles. The Cubs are weighing a return for Carson Kelly, which would complicate Amayas path to staying the primary catcher, while prospect Owen Ayers adds another layer of uncertainty behind him. For a player who has done enough to matter but not enough to quiet the speculation, the next move by the front office may end up defining whether Amaya is viewed as the long-term answer or a trade chip. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Just Made A Front Office Move Fans Need To Watch
The Orioles latest front office hire is a familiar name around Chicago. Jared Banner has officially been brought in as Baltimores general manager, a move that gives him a broad role over player development, coaching and performance while he works alongside Mike Elias on staffing and acquisitions.
Banners path to Baltimore runs straight through some of baseballs more respected organizations, including the Cubs, where he served as assistant general manager. For Cubs fans, it is another reminder that the people helping shape other clubs often spent time inside their own operation first, and his next steps in Baltimore will be worth watching from afar. [Read more 🡒]