{"id":831409,"date":"2026-10-17T09:18:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/831409\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T09:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:18:28","slug":"chicago-cubs-predicted-to-disappoint-with-business-as-usual-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/831409\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs predicted to disappoint with business as usual offseason"},"content":{"rendered":"

If someone told you that a team would have to rebuild their entire starting rotation and a good part of their bullpen\u2014in a single offseason\u2014you\u2019d be right to rule them out for any sort of run at the postseason.<\/p>\n

More News: Chicago Cubs predicted to trade for All-Star starting pitcher<\/a><\/p>\n

But the Chicago Cubs find themselves in that predicament while also being firmly in \u201cwin now\u201d mode with a prime Peter Crow-Armstrong leading a team of veterans who are mainly post-prime, like Alex Bregman<\/a> and Dansby Swanson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To be frank, the Cubs\u2019 pitching situation is horrible. Their entire end-of-season starting rotation could be gone via free agency over the offseason. What remains is just a pile-up of question marks. Cade Horton<\/a> will miss much\u2014if not all\u2014of the 2027 season after Tommy John surgery. Justin Steele<\/a> hasn\u2019t pitched in almost two full years because of this own elbow surgery-related issues. Ben Brown<\/a>\u2019s future is in doubt after recurring neck issues put him on the shelf, again, in 2026. Then there was Edward Cabrera<\/a>, who frustrated in his debut Cubs season with assorted injuries and general underachievement.<\/p>\n

The bullpen, meanwhile, also boasts more doubt than security heading into the 2027 campaign, lacking the strong, consistent closer they just couldn\u2019t find in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Cubs\u2019 biggest questions
\n\"ChicagoMay 10, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Phil Maton<\/a> (88) throws to the plate against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

More News: Chicago Cubs possibly facing major NYC competition for free agent Seiya Suzuki?<\/a><\/p>\n

In a recent piece on the biggest questions facing eliminated MLB playoff teams the coming season, ESPN\u2019s Jesse Rogers<\/a> surprised nobody by declaring pitching to be the Cubs\u2019 biggest concern. Specifically, he spotlighted Chicago\u2019s bullpen:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does one make of a bullpen that was inconsistent? It\u2019s a yearly debate under Jed Hoyer, who doesn\u2019t like to spend big money on closers. The Cubs have paid for that decision at times \u2014 though in other moments they\u2019ve developed some good relievers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that same piece, though, Rogers predicted that the Cubs would spend some money on filling out the rotation. However, they also saw Jed Hoyer and the team still playing things conservatively when it comes to the bullpen:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cubs probably will do what they usually do: spend some on their rotation, but not on the pen. They shelled out a few dollars for middle relievers in Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey<\/a> last year and it didn\u2019t work out, so unless they have an appetite for a big-time closer \u2014 they almost never do \u2014it feels as if they\u2019ll try to build their bullpen with minor additions and under-the-radar guys. Boyd might return, but Holmes, Imanaga and Gausman will test the market, opening up some slots in the rotation.\u201d<\/p>\n

A good time to turn a new leaf
\n\"JedNov 9, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer answers questions from the media during the MLB GM Meetings at The Conrad Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

That\u2019s certainly a disappointing assessment of how the Cubs\u2019 offseason will go, but it\u2019s honestly not all that surprising.<\/p>\n

Although the Cubs have shown themselves willing to bid on major bullpen assets, they\u2019ve never graduated beyond \u201calso ran\u201d status. Actually, the same could be said when it comes to starting pitching, too.<\/p>\n

This offseason would be a good time to ditch that reputation, though.<\/p>\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs predicted to trade for All-Star starting pitcher
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