Dylan Cease is the free agent pitcher whom the Chicago Cubs have been most commonly linked to this offseason.
This is because the Cubs have made it known that they intend to acquire a top-tier starting pitcher. And while Cease (who posted an 8-12 record with a 4.55 ERA and 215 strikeouts in 168 innings pitched in the 2025 regular season) has been more inconsistent than some of the other top free agent pitchers available, the bottom line is that he’s durable, always tallies a ton of strikeouts, and has shown that he can contend for a Cy Young Award in the past.
Cease’s agent Scott Boras addressed his client potentially signing with the Cubs on November 12 by saying, “I think we all know how Dylan Cease pitches at Wrigley Field. He is dominant. I don’t see a pitcher in the market that’s going to have the potential that Cease has and the proven element of durability to go along with that quality and potential.
“So, 200 strikeouts a year, it’s just not something the game has…getting those types of arms really, really increase your opportunity to [win a championship],” he added, per an X post from Marquee Sports Network.