The Chicago Cubs are staring at a rotation overhaul, and the timing could hardly be worse.
Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, David Peterson, and trade deadline additions Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are all headed for free agency, leaving Jed Hoyer with a major hole to fill. That makes this offseason a pivotal one for the Cubs president of baseball operations, especially with the club in need of a true front-line starter.
Tarik Skubal fits that description. The Cubs could be among the teams chasing the ace, but the price tag may be the obstacle that changes everything.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Chicago is interested, but not necessarily ready to go where the market may demand.
"The Chicago Cubs badly want Skubal. They also are skeptical that they will be willing to compete at the sort of dollars Skubal is expected to get -- well in excess of $300 million, potentially in the $400 million-plus range," Passan wrote.
How far the Cubs would actually push before stepping away is unclear. What is clear is that the bidding could get expensive fast.
Passan identified the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets as the other leading contenders for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Both clubs are known for their willingness to spend aggressively, and the Mets in particular have shown just how far they’ll go after Steve Cohen signed Juan Soto for $765 million two offseasons ago.
The Cubs figure to be involved in the Skubal chase. Whether they can keep pace if the bidding climbs into that upper tier is another matter entirely.
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Cubs Interest In Tarik Skubal Raises A Frustrating Offseason Question
The Cubs are at least in the conversation for the biggest name on the pitching market, with Jeff Passan reporting interest in Tarik Skubal as the left-hander heads toward free agency. Skubal sits atop this offseasons class and is expected to land a contract that could reset the market, which naturally puts Chicago in a familiar spot: intrigued by the fit, but aware of the price tag.
For a team still looking to strengthen its rotation, the appeal is obvious. The frustration is just as clear, because the Cubs acknowledge they may not be able to keep pace with the kind of bidding that figures to come from clubs such as the Dodgers and Mets before the Dec. 1 lockout. That leaves Chicago weighing ambition against reality, and wondering whether being linked to the markets best pitcher will amount to anything more than a brief, expensive flirtation. [Read more 🡒]
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For Diamondbacks fans, that kind of consistency is easy to appreciate because Jones has long been viewed as one of the organizations most intriguing long-term pieces. The offensive upside will always be part of the conversation, but awards like this keep reinforcing the idea that his defensive profile is already carrying real weight. Arizona is still waiting to see how all of it comes together, and this latest recognition gives the fan base another reason to keep believing there is more coming. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Rotation Need Could Lead To A Risky Pirates Trade Target
The Cubs are already looking ahead to 2027, and the state of their rotation is going to force that conversation sooner rather than later. Pitching depth has become a real planning issue, which means the front office is expected to keep its options open and explore multiple ways to add arms before the calendar flips to that season.
One name that could surface is a Pirates pitcher who has drawn interest because of both his upside and his volatility. He has shown enough promise to make him worth watching, but the underlying numbers raise real questions, and the fit in Chicago would come with some risk. Add in the fact that his situation in Pittsburgh has not been entirely smooth, and he becomes exactly the kind of trade target the Cubs may have to weigh carefully. [Read more 🡒]