Offseason Outlook: Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have arguably the best position player core in MLB. It’s no secret they’ll focus this offseason on building a pitching staff that can hold up its end of the bargain. Guaranteed Contracts Alex Bregman, 3B: $140MM through 2030 ($70MM deferred between 2034-41) Nico Hoerner, 2B: $138.5MM through 2032 ($10MM deferred between 2040-47) Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF: $110MM through 2032 Dansby Swanson, SS: $78MM through 2029 Clay Holmes, RHP: $12MM player option (expected to opt out) Phil Maton, RHP: $9MM through 2027 (including buyout of ’28 mutual option) Shelby Miller, RHP: $1.5MM through 2027 (including buyout of ’28 club option) Option Decisions RHP Clay Holmes holds $12MM option Team holds $7.5MM option on RHP Colin Rea ($1MM buyout) Team holds $2.5MM option on RHP Jacob Webb Team, LHP Matthew Boyd hold $15MM mutual option ($2MM buyout) Team, RHP Hunter Harvey hold $8MM mutual option ($1MM buyout) Team, C Carson Kelly hold $7.5MM mutual option ($1.5MM buyout) Team, LHP Caleb Thielbar hold $6MM mutual option ($500K buyout) Team holds $3.3MM option on RHP Javier Assad — remains eligible for arbitration even if option declined 2027 guarantees: $108.25MM ($10MM of Bregman’s salary deferred; assumes Holmes opt out) Total future commitments: $483MM (not including future deferrals; assumes Holmes opt out) Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) Justin Steele (5.143): $6.8MM Edward Cabrera (4.147): $4.8MM Braxton Garrett (4.006): $1.6MM Javier Assad (3.167): $2.3MM Miguel Amaya (3.130): $1.7MM Gabriel Arias (3.124): $1.3MM Ryan Rolison (3.109): $1.1MM Ethan Roberts (3.080): $800K Michael Busch (3.045): $5.4MM Ben Brown (2.169): $1.3MM Daniel Palencia (2.154): $1.2MM Non-tender candidates: Garrett, Arias, Roberts Free Agents Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Shota Imanaga, Clay Holmes (assuming opt out), Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, Carson Kelly, David Peterson, Michael Conforto, Caleb Thielbar, Tyrone Taylor, Trent Thornton, Aaron Civale, Hunter Harvey, Tyler Austin Few teams are likely to have as much offseason turnover as the Cubs. Chicago has made the playoffs in consecutive years but failed to advance beyond the Division Series. The pitching staff and offense were equally at fault in this year’s Wild Card Series loss in San Diego, but it’s the lack of impact arms that has the Cubs a tier or two below the best teams in the National League. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has already acknowledged the obvious, noting that pitching will be the offseason focus. “We’re leaning on our defense too heavily, and the overall quality of the pitching has to improve. … When I think about our offseason, when I think about seasons to come, that has to be the goal, to get our pitching infrastructure and pitching quality to the level of our position player group,” Hoyer told reporters at the end of season press conference. “It’s safe to say that the biggest part of our focus going into the offseason is going to be on pitching. Whether that’s 100-to-0, what that ratio is going to be, has not been determined yet. But certainly, the great majority of our focus is going to be on pitching acquisition.” Chicago has an entire rotation among a staggering 15 major league free agents. (That assumes all mutual options are declined and that Clay Holmes passes on his $12MM player option.) The Cubs had 10 different pitchers make at least eight starts this past season. Only three — Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad — are currently slated to be back. The Cubs could retain a fourth, swingman Colin Rea, via $7.5MM club option. That comes with a $1MM buyout, making it a $6.5MM decision. Rea turned in a fourth straight season with 120+ innings and an ERA around or slightly above 4.00. The Cubs probably don’t want to cover the $6.5MM difference but could look to restructure Rea’s contract to bring him back at a slightly lower price — as they did within the first few days of last offseason. Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco. Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony. Remove ads and support our writers. Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker View Comments (0)