With the GM Meetings underway in Las Vegas, the Cubs are in the kind of spot that forces front offices to choose between patience and urgency. Chicago has obvious needs all over the roster, but the biggest ones are impossible to miss: the starting rotation is thin, both corner outfield jobs are open, and there are still a couple bench spots to sort out. Arms are going to drive the conversation, whether that comes through free agency or the trade market.
If Jed Hoyer wants to make something happen this week, there are a few different lanes he could take - from sensible to swing-for-the-fences to flat-out dangerous.
The cleanest path would be a deal for Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. He’s entering the final year of his contract at $24 million, and if the Cubs aren’t diving into the top tier of free agency, he makes a lot of sense as a short-term rotation fix.
Eovaldi keeps the ball on the ground, misses bats and would give Chicago a veteran presence in a staff that needs one. With his age and the Rangers looking to trim payroll, this is the kind of move that likely costs mid-level prospects rather than premium talent.
If the Cubs want to get aggressive, though, the name that jumps out is CJ Abrams. That would be a true blockbuster, especially if Chicago ends up priced out of bringing back Seiya Suzuki.
A move like Joc Pederson would be the more modest answer, but Abrams is the louder one. He’s under team control for two more years and just put together a massive 2026 season, posting a 30/30 campaign with 5.1 bWAR while earning his second All-Star nod.
A deal like that would take multiple top 100 prospects and then some, and it’s hard to imagine Hoyer spending that kind of prospect capital when pitching is still such a glaring need. Still, the upside is obvious - pairing Abrams with PCA would be a nasty 1-2 punch.
Then there’s the kind of move that looks tempting until you start digging into it: Spencer Strider. On paper, the idea is easy to sell.
He was once one of the game’s most exciting young arms, and the hope would be that he gets back to that level. But the risk is enormous.
Strider is owed $22 million in each of the next two seasons and also has a club option for 2029. He was limited to eight starts this year, and while he’s expected to enter 2027 healthy, his recent track record is hard to ignore.
Since his breakout in 2023, he’s made 33 starts with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.402 WHIP. Even if the return package is light, the Cubs have already been burned enough by injury-question-mark pitchers to know this is the sort of gamble that can go sideways fast.
In Other News...
Jed Hoyer Is Sending Cubs Fans A Familiar Offseason Warning
The Cubs offseason is already taking shape with a familiar kind of restraint. Rather than diving into the top of the pitching market, the front office is being linked to a quieter plan that reflects both budget realities and the uncertainty hanging over the sport. Tarik Skubal would be the kind of arm that changes a rotation, but Chicago appears prepared to watch from the sidelines while bigger-spending clubs like the Dodgers and Mets set the pace.
Instead, the focus seems to be on more manageable moves, including trying to bring back pitchers such as Clay Holmes and David Peterson while exploring whether Adrian Morejon could be stretched into a starting role. The broader message from the GM Meetings was less about urgency than caution, a sign the Cubs may be waiting to see how the market and the labor situation develop before making their biggest decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Be Losing A Dream Pitching Target At The Worst Time
The next MLB offseason already has the feel of something unusual, with collective bargaining talks looming and a likely owner-implemented lockout set to begin Dec. 2. If that happens, the usual winter rhythm could get thrown off, which is why the General Managers Meetings in November may end up carrying more weight than usual for clubs trying to get business done before the calendar gets turned upside down.
For the Cubs, that matters because one of the biggest pitching names on the market may be slipping out of reach. Tarik Skubal had been viewed as a potential dream target, but reports now indicate Chicago is not expected to be among the major bidders, a notable shift for a team that could have used a front-line arm if the market opened the way many expected. With the offseason already looking volatile, the Cubs may have to watch a premium opportunity move elsewhere before the real bidding even fully begins. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Brown Uncertainty Just Raised The Stakes For Cubs Free Agency
The Cubs already had a rotation puzzle on their hands entering the offseason, with multiple free agents to sort through and injury concerns lingering around the staff. Ben Brown only adds to the uncertainty. The right-hander has not resumed throwing after a recurring neck injury, and the possibility of surgery has put another layer of doubt over how Chicago approaches its pitching plans.
For a team trying to rebuild the rotation, Browns status matters because it changes the level of risk the front office has to manage. Chicago cannot afford to treat the staff as a finished project, and the latest update only reinforces the need for aggressive moves as the Cubs weigh how much help they need and how quickly they need it. [Read more 🡒]