Cubs Eye Pitching Upgrades as MLB Free-agent Market Opens

WHO:

MLB.com - Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said pitching must be a primary offseason focus; he said the team must “double down” on improving its pitching infrastructure and quality.

MLB.com - Cubs free agents include pitchers Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, David Peterson, Aaron Civale and Trent Thornton; Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Conforto and Tyrone Taylor are also free agents.

MLB.com - Matthew Boyd has a $15 million mutual option or $2 million buyout; Clay Holmes has a $12 million player option. Both were expected to decide whether to enter free agency.

MLB.com - Chicago’s listed returning starting pitchers are Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Justin Steele, Javier Assad and Braxton Garrett. Cade Horton is recovering from right elbow surgery.

FOX Sports - Shota Imanaga, Gausman, Holmes, Boyd, Peterson and Tyrone Taylor are among the free agents profiled; the article lists market-value estimates for many players, including $22.9 million average annual value for Imanaga and $19 million for Gausman.

CBS Sports - The outlet ranked 50 free agents and identified Tarik Skubal, Adrian Morejon, Trevor Rogers, Teruaki Sato and Freddy Peralta among its top five. It listed the Cubs as a potential destination for Morejon, Rogers, Peralta, Suzuki, Ian Happ and other players.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Chicago could lose all five pitchers who finished the 2026 season in its rotation. The article said the Cubs need to strengthen their starting-pitching depth.

MLB.com - Imanaga recorded a 3.77 ERA, 174 strikeouts and 37 walks in 32 starts covering 174⅓ innings; he allowed 35 home runs.

MLB.com - Boyd made 126⅔ innings, posted a 3.91 ERA and had a 3.28 ERA over his final six outings.

FOX Sports - The free-agent market includes pitchers with varied roles and profiles; it describes Imanaga as a command-oriented left-hander and Holmes as a starter with a $12 million player option.

CBS Sports - The article says the upcoming offseason’s free-agent rankings reflect expectations for future performance and include players expected to move from Japan’s NPB and South Korea’s KBO to MLB.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The Cubs are based in Chicago; Milwaukee’s Brewers won the NL Central and the franchise’s first World Series title.

FOX Sports - The article describes the Brewers celebrating their championship at Tropicana Field.

CBS Sports - Potential landing spots listed for Rogers include the Braves, Cubs and Orioles; for Imanaga, the Angels, Padres and Rays.

WHEN:

MLB.com - Players became free agents on Thursday; teams have until Monday to make 2027 option decisions and decide whether to extend qualifying offers.

MLB.com - The qualifying-offer amount is $23.15 million; Boyd, Happ and Suzuki were identified as possible recipients.

FOX Sports - Free agents can negotiate and sign with any team after the five-day quiet period ends on Nov. 3.

CBS Sports - The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1.

WHY:

MLB.com - Hoyer said the Brewers’ pitching had been “exceptionally good” and identified pitching as the area Chicago must improve.

MLB.com - Injuries and other problems affected the Cubs’ rotation during the season; Peterson and Holmes were acquired in trades to help address those issues.

HOW:

FOX Sports - The article says teams can negotiate with free agents once the quiet period concludes; it also reports that clubs must decide on player options and qualifying offers.

CBS Sports - The rankings were compiled using statistical and video analysis, past market research, and editorial judgment.

Cubs president Jed Hoyer says pitching must lead Chicago’s offseason improvements after rotation troubles. Chicago could lose all five season-ending rotation starters, making pitching depth a priority. Free-agent negotiations begin November 3, while teams weigh options and qualifying offers.