The Cubs’ rotation could look a whole lot different when the 2027 season opens, and that’s not just because of free agency. It’s also the natural fallout from consecutive seasons in which pitching has been the club’s biggest shortcoming. Jed Hoyer has already said most of Chicago’s available offseason resources will go toward bolstering the staff, both in the rotation and the bullpen.
So, with realism in mind, here’s a way-too-early forecast for how the Cubs might line up when Opening Day 2027 arrives.
The biggest swing, in this projection, comes from the free-agent market. Rather than another trade headline like last offseason’s Edward Cabrera move, the guess here is that Hoyer lands a more significant arm in Sonny Gray. Gray is coming off a 2.72 ERA with the Boston Red Sox, and his career 49.4% groundball rate would fit neatly behind the Cubs’ defense.
Clay Holmes also feels like someone Chicago will make a strong push to keep. The Cubs gave up one of their top prospects to get him at the deadline, and Hoyer’s comments at his end-of-season press conference pointed in that direction as well. Holmes had a rough September because of command issues, but the larger body of work suggests he can handle himself as a No. 2 starter.
David Peterson is another name the Cubs should prioritize. He was the best trade addition Chicago made in 2026 after the Mets removed him from their rotation, and once he arrived, he kept the ball on the ground and posted a 3.70 ERA across a little more than 80 innings. It may not be the splashiest move, but it looks like a sensible one.
Justin Steele also belongs in the picture, even if the expectation level needs to stay measured. He did not return to the big-league club in 2026, but he finished the season healthy.
The last time he was active, he was at the top of the Cubs’ rotation, though it may take time before he gets back to that level. For 2027, the idea is less about him carrying the staff and more about him giving it a solid finish.
Then there’s Edward Cabrera, who remains a central piece of the puzzle. The Cubs need him to succeed, and if he doesn’t, his tenure could end up looking like one of Hoyer’s biggest misses. Cabrera finished 2026 in the bullpen, but the expectation here is that he’ll get a chance to open 2027 in the rotation.
In Other News...
Matt Shaw Could Be Central To Cubs' Toughest Offseason Decision
After another disappointing season, the Cubs are staring at a winter that could force real roster reshuffling, especially on the pitching side. With several starting pitchers potentially on the way out, the front office may have to get creative if it wants to rebuild a rotation that can hold up next year, and that puts a premium on whatever young talent it is willing to move.
Matt Shaw has quickly become one of the more interesting chips in that conversation. Chicago could explore a deal involving Shaw and other prospects to bring back Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, a move that would directly address the rotation while testing how far the Cubs are willing to push their timeline for improvement. For a club trying to fix more than one problem at once, Shaw may wind up at the center of the toughest call of all. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Just Hit A Potential Snag In Their Pitching Search
The Cubs are heading into an offseason where pitching is likely to be the main priority, with the front office expected to look for arms that can keep the ball on the ground and still miss bats. With several rotation spots in 2027 projected to come from outside the organization, the team figures to be active in the market, and Trevor Rogers has the kind of profile that fits what Chicago is after.
Rogers 2026 season with Baltimore was steady enough to keep him on the radar, especially with a 3.45 FIP backing up a 4.03 ERA, but his groundball rate dipped compared to previous years. The wrinkle for the Cubs is that the Orioles may extend a qualifying offer, and under the current CBA that could make any pursuit more expensive and more complicated than Chicago would like. [Read more 🡒]
Jed Hoyer Faces A Familiar Cubs Trap In This Pitching Search
The Cubs are again in the market for pitching help, and the names at the center of the discussion all come with a familiar warning label. Shane Bieber, Casey Mize and Bryan Abreu each carry some version of the same risk profile that has tripped up clubs before: recent health issues, uneven performance or a fastball that simply does not look as sharp as it once did. For a front office trying to build stability on the mound, those are the kinds of questions that can turn a promising winter into a costly detour.
Jed Hoyer has seen this movie before, when upside and pedigree made it easy to talk a team into believing a bounce-back was around the corner. Biebers health and performance concerns, Mizes declining velocity and Abreus dip in fastball speed along with a higher walk rate all make for tempting but dangerous projections. The Cubs can afford to dream on arms with upside, but this offseason suggests a need for more caution than nostalgia. [Read more 🡒]