The Chicago Cubs have not been all that active this offseason, and it is beginning to wear thin on the fan base. Sure, we have heard the Cubs connected to big names like Tatsuya Imai and Alex Bregman, but nothing has happened just yet.
Because Chicago has a recent history of not spending, some are wondering if the Cubs will cheap out again in free agency, and the possibility does exist.
However, just because Chicago goes the bargain route doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t make impactful additions, and MLB insider Robert Murray has linked the Cubs to a very interesting — and affordable — pitcher currently available on the open market: Walker Buehler.
“And the Chicago Cubs could also make sense as a team for Buehler,” Murray wrote. “They are hardly connected to any big names in free agency (with the exception of Alex Bregman). It appears they want to add value with upside, and the work they did with pitchers, most notably Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz, was noticed by folks around the league. Could Buehler be their next veteran project?”
Murray went on to say that the Cubs were just a speculative guess on his part, but they could make some sense as a destination based on their track record.
Would the Chicago Cubs go the cheap route again?
Sep 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Walker Buehler (31) looks on from the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing with Buehler: he hasn’t been good in four years.
The 31-year-old spent most of this past season with the Boston Red Sox and also made a few appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, logging a 4.93 ERA and 1.516 WHIP over 26 outings and 24 starts.
Buehler was a terrific pitcher during his early days with the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning a pair of All-Star selections. Then, in 2022, injuries struck, and he has not been the same arm ever since. Yes, he was a member of two Dodgers World Series championships in 2020 and 2024, and he did pitch well in both of those playoff runs, but at this point, it’s clear that the right-hander is a reclamation project.
Buehler is an intriguing potential addition, but he’s not someone the Cubs really need.
Chicago is already flush with solid hurlers in its starting rotation. What it needs is an ace, and Buehler is certainly not that at this point of his career.
If the Cubs do miss out on Imai and don’t pursue other top pitchers like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, then perhaps Buehler could be a fallback plan, but it would be a frustrating one, to say the least.
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