The Cubs are now officially in the mix for one of Japan’s most intriguing pitchers.
Kaima Taira has entered the posting system, which opens the door for him to sign with a major league club. Chicago had already been tied to him in rumors, and the club was among the teams that scouted him overseas. That included a look at his 7-inning shutout performance, the kind of outing that tends to stick with evaluators.
At 26, Taira arrives with a résumé that stands out even before he throws a pitch in the majors. According to Adrian White of Future Sox, he made history in Nippon Professional Baseball by becoming the first pitcher in league history to win setup, saves, and ERA titles in his career. That kind of track record naturally raises the same question everyone is asking now: starter or reliever?
For the Cubs, the answer may not matter all that much. What matters is that they need arms, and they need them with velocity.
Taira brings that in a big way, with the ability to hit triple digits. That alone makes him a fit for a bullpen that has been the team’s weakest link.
The numbers from his 2026 season back up the buzz: 12-5, a 1.36 ERA, and 146 innings. The line that accompanied his posting made the case plainly enough: 23 G | 22 GS | 146.0 IP, 1.36 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 24.8% K, 7.9% BB, 16.9% K-BB. There’s also the lingering debate over whether he’s best used in relief or stretched out as a starter, but either way, the talent is obvious.
Chicago’s bullpen approach in recent seasons has leaned toward low-cost bets and lottery tickets, and that has left the group in the spot it’s in now. Jed Hoyer has already taken the blame for that, and if the Cubs want a different result this winter, a pitcher like Taira would mark a real change in direction.
If he ends up in the bullpen, the fit is easy to picture. Daniel Palenica and Ryan Zeferjahn could handle setup work, while Taira would be the arm finishing games. That would give the Cubs the kind of late-inning power they’ve been missing.
Still, the Cubs could just as easily explore him as a rotation option. Matthew Boyd, Clay Holmes, Kevin Gausman, and Shota Imanaga have each hit free agency in recent days, leaving Chicago with several spots to fill. Taira would give them a high-upside swing either way.
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