Report Says Cubs Will Pursue Top Pitching Free Agents

Yeah, we all wish that Juan Soto was the main priority because everyone knows the Cubs desperately need a star bat in the lineup. That doesn’t seem to be the direction the team is headed toward in the offseason, but it also doesn’t mean the Cubs are going to sit on their hands either.

It appears as though the Cubs will continue to prioritize run prevention as a recent report indicates that a top of rotation starter will be on Jed Hoyer’s radar this winter.

The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney first brought up the notion that the Cubs will look to improve the starting rotation in an article on Sept. 15.

Via The Athletic.

“The Cubs will explore ways to upgrade their rotation and leverage the team’s pitching infrastructure. That could mean making a long-term commitment to an All-Star such as Max Fried. It could involve offering a big one-year deal to a pitcher looking to prove he’s healthy and reestablish his high-end value, perhaps someone like Walker Buehler.”

The mention of Max Fried was certainly good to see, but not so much a reclamation project in Walker Buehler, no matter how talented the Dodgers pitcher is. However, Mooney was even more confident in his article on Sept. 23, when he wrote the following.

“The Cubs are planning to add an established starting pitcher…There’s ample room for a free agent who would be expected to make 30 starts and could be trusted in a playoff game.”

Maybe the Cubs won’t be favorites to sign long-term deals with Blake Snell or Corbin Burnes, but the Cubs insider does not rule out the possibility that the Cubs make that big of a splash.

Plus, beyond the free agent market that also includes the aforementioned Fried, there’s proven playoff veteran Nathan Eovaldi and 28-year-old Jack Flaherty, there’s the realistic chance that the Cubs use their farm system to trade for an elite starting pitcher.

Hey, if the Cubs are going to focus on pitching, then fine, but go all the way here. Get an elite arm. As we’ve seen during the past two seasons, there are several areas in which the Cubs are good at, but nothing they’re great in. If pitching and defense is going to be the team’s identity, then be great in those areas.

We’ll see what Jed does in what’s looking like a do or die offseason for him with the Cubs.

(Previous Update)

There’s one major free agent target available this upcoming offseason and it would be a damn shame if the Chicago Cubs don’t aggressively pursuit 25-year-old superstar Juan Soto. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really sound like the Cubs will be much of a factor for Soto this winter, but Chicago baseball insider Bruce Levine did share who he believes will be the team’s No. 1 free agent target and it’s a bit surprising.

During Saturday’s Inside the Clubhouse on 670 The Score, Levine responded to a caller’s frustration over the lack of star power on the Cubs and in his reply Levine was confident in saying that right-handed starting pitcher Corbin Burnes will be the team’s top free agent target this offseason.

Via 670 The Score.

“Burnes will be available, I think he will be their No. 1 guy that they will be looking for next year as far as the free agents go. Again, the old adage is, ‘if you need more hitting go and get yourself the best pitcher in baseball.’ I think the Cubs will be players for Burnes.”

Honestly, mixed feelings, but it has literally nothing to do with being against going after Corbin Burnes. That would be fantastic. Imagine the Cubs starting rotation of Burnes, Justin Steele, Shōta Imanaga as the top-three and then you still have a workhorse in Jameson Taillon as your fourth option with the fifth slot up for competition among the younger starters? Hell yeah, that would be lovely.

As we’ve seen throughout this season, you can never have enough quality pitching.

At the same time I can’t help being annoyed that the discourse around going after Soto is basically, well the Cubs probably can’t match the Yankees. Why the fuck not. So sick and tired of watching the Cubs pass up on true stars, future hall of fame players that are available in free agency because the Ricketts suddenly have empty pockets when it comes to paying for top tier talent.

Well, let’s focus on Burnes considering he is great and would be an awesome signing for the Cubs. The right-handed pitcher was traded to the Baltimore Orioles this past offseason and going to the American League East has not stopped his good pitching. The 29-year-old has a 3.10 ERA through 25 starts this season, racking up 144 strikeouts in 153.2 innings.

Burnes, as Cubs fans know, began his MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers and after spending a few seasons going back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation the righty became one of the most dominant starters in the National League. From 2021-2023, Burnes pitched to a 2.94 ERA in 93 starts.

While Burnes hasn’t put up the huge strikeout numbers in 2024 with the Orioles as he did during his Brewers days, the veteran is now generating more ground balls while maintaining his low walk rate. He’ll be 30-years-old when free agency begins in the winter and if Levine’s intel is correct, then expect the Cubs to be serious suitors for the four-time All-Star and 2021 NL Cy Young winner.

By the way, in terms of the Cubs needing an impact bat, which they do need to add, Levine said the obvious. It’s not like the Cubs are going to completely ignore the offense heading into 2025, as Levine said they will try to bring in a star bat. Now, maybe that move could still work out great like the Michael Busch trade has so far, but again Cubs fans should probably already forget about Juan Soto.

I’ll settle for Vlad Jr. if the Blue Jays don’t extend him.