{"id":503041,"date":"2026-01-02T18:41:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/503041\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T18:41:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T18:41:15","slug":"chicago-cubs-again-linked-to-potential-160-million-ground-ball-specialist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/503041\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs again linked to potential $160 million ground ball specialist"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs swung and missed in their bid to land Japanese pitching import Tatsuya Imai, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean doom and gloom when it comes to the team adding a high-end starting pitcher to a vulnerable rotation.<\/p>\n

More News: Chicago Cubs target is off the board; Imai signs cheapo deal with Houston Astros<\/a><\/p>\n

Even with the NPB star joining Dylan Cease and Michael King as top starters removed from the 2026 free agent market, there are still some high-quality arms on the \u201cunsigned\u201d list such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen. The Cubs, to varying degrees, have been linked to all three.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are \u201cin\u201d on Ranger Suarez
\n\"RangerAug 12, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) walks off the field during a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

More News: Big Chicago Cubs-St.Louis Cardinals trade is not so far-fetched anymore<\/a><\/p>\n

Jon Heyman of the New York Post<\/a> recently reaffirmed what he has been saying throughout the offseason. The Cubs are \u201cin\u201d on Suarez, although they do have competition.<\/p>\n

Per Heyman:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Orioles, Giants, Mets, and Cubs are among teams linked to Suarez. He has elite command \u2013 he was judged having the best command in MLB and above average location with six different pitches \u2013 but he hasn\u2019t logged the enormous number of innings of Valdez. Of course, lower \u2018mileage\u2019 could also be perceived positively.\u201d<\/p>\n

The positives
\n\"RangerSep 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old Suarez is most definitely the kind of pitcher that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer seems to love.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s serious, professional, has good control, a good command of his pitch arsenal, and induces weak contact. He\u2019s not the kind of flame-throwing strikeout artist the team was said to be targeting, but his skill set and mind set make him a more dependable selection if Chicago were to entertain a longer-term contract. His career ground ball rate of 52% (with extended stretches where that rate hovers near 60%) would also mesh nicely with the Cubs\u2019 elite infield defense. Last season, he went 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA over 26 starts with the Philadelphia Phillies.<\/p>\n

The southpaw Suarez is also an ace in postseason play, something which would be of benefit to a Cubs team aiming for a deeper postseason run this coming season.<\/p>\n

Also, per Heyman:<\/p>\n

\u201cHis postseason excellence should make him a prime target (his 1.48 postseason ERA is third-best this century, after Mariano Rivera (0.86) and Stephen Strasburg (1.46)).<\/p>\n

The realities
\n\"ChicagoChicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts (R) smiles next to Chicago Cubs President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer (L) before a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The perceived sticking point, as always seems to be the case when it comes to Cubs free agent targets, is price and length of contract.<\/p>\n

Contract projections have Suarez headed for a 4-6 year contract at $110-$160 million, something which is well beyond what the Cubs have been willing to pay for pitching. The last time the Cubs invested in a nine-digit contract for a pitcher was back in 2018 with Yu Darvish, but they would end up trading him away just two years into that six-year deal.<\/p>\n

One compelling factor that could push the Cubs to spend beyond their comfort zone is that they find themselves with their backs against the wall. With so much of their veteran talent headed into free agency at the end of the coming season (Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, etc.), there should be an urgency to not only win now, but to also build a solid foundation for 2027 and beyond.<\/p>\n

Suarez, perhaps above all remaining free agent starters, possesses the steadiness and consistency to be a long-term asset. He also has the skill set that may allow him to be an effective pitcher up through the final years of his contract as he works past his physical prime.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not as eye-catching of an addition as Cease or Imai would\u2019ve been, but he does fit into what the Cubs generally value in their pitchers.<\/p>\n

Contractually, Suarez is also a more reasonable purchase than the Cubs\u2019 other reported pitching targets this offseason. Dylan Cease\u2019s seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, packed with deferred money, was too rich for Chicago\u2019s tastes. The Tatsuya Imai deal, which guaranteed a base of $54 million over three years that could top off at $63 million after incentives, seemed too risky considering the Japanese star would have the ability to opt out after each season (Worst case scenario would have the Cubs paying $30 million\u2013 after posting fee\u2013 for just one year of Imai). Framber Valdez, meanwhile, is projected to land a 5-7 year deal worth anywhere from $160 to $210 million.<\/p>\n

Suarez would seem like a reasonable compromise if the goal is adding a legit front-of-rotation starter. But, of course, it\u2019s the Cubs\u2019 money to spend and there\u2019s just no guarantee that they\u2019re open to investing in Suarez.<\/p>\n

In the coming days, the free agent pitching market should become much clearer and it\u2019ll be revealed whether the Cubs were serious buyers or simply window shoppers.<\/p>\n

\"Cubs\u2019<\/p>\n

Cubs\u2019 Tatsuya Imai fallout is worse than you think for one terrifying reason
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