The days of riding five workhorse starters through a full season are long gone. In 2025, just three pitchers across all of Major League Baseball crossed the 200-inning threshold-a stark reminder of how much the game has evolved. Load management isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s a strategy, and it’s reshaping how front offices build their rosters.
That brings us to the Chicago Cubs, who are heading into 2026 with something most teams envy: real, tangible rotation depth. Jed Hoyer and the front office have quietly assembled a stable of arms that could prove to be one of the team's biggest strengths this season-not just for what they bring to the mound, but for the options and flexibility they provide.
Let’s take a look at the names currently in the mix: Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele (who’s expected back in the first half), Edward Cabrera, Jordan Wicks, Javier Assad, Jaxon Wiggins, Ben Brown, and Colin Rea.
That’s 12 legitimate candidates for five starting spots. And while not every name on that list is a sure thing-Steele’s return timeline is still a question mark, Cabrera has battled injuries, and Brown has yet to find consistent footing in the majors-the sheer volume of options puts the Cubs in a strong position to weather the inevitable ups and downs of a 162-game grind.
This isn’t just about having depth for the sake of it. It’s about having the ability to adapt.
Injuries, slumps, matchups-whatever the season throws at them, the Cubs have contingency plans in place. And that could be a game-changer.
Now, fast forward to late July. Let’s say things are clicking.
The Cubs are in contention, the rotation is rolling, and Craig Counsell seems to push the right button every time he fills out the lineup card. That’s where this depth becomes even more interesting.
Both Imanaga and Taillon are on one-year deals, which opens the door to some intriguing possibilities at the trade deadline. If the Cubs are humming and have a surplus of starting pitching, it’s not out of the question to think they could flip one of those veterans to address another area of need-without compromising their rotation.
Boyd is under team control for 2027 via a $15 million mutual option, while Rea has a $7.5 million club option. These aren’t just arms to plug into the rotation-they’re potential trade chips, should the Cubs decide to get aggressive at the deadline.
To be clear, none of this means Chicago has to move off expiring contracts. If the goal is a deep October run-and it should be-then keeping the rotation intact might make the most sense.
But the key here is flexibility. Hoyer and his staff have given themselves options, and in today’s game, that’s as valuable as any ace on the mound.
Bottom line: the Cubs aren’t just hoping their rotation holds up in 2026-they’ve built it to withstand the wear and tear of a long season, and maybe even to help them make a big move when the time is right. That’s the kind of depth that wins in October.