Cubs president Jed Hoyer has made pitching acquisitions his top offseason priority, acknowledging a stark contrast between Chicago’s elite position-player group and a rotation and bullpen that underperformed throughout 2026. The club gave up 231 home runs, most in the National League, and was swept by the San Diego Padres in the wild card round, a postseason exit Hoyer called a missed opportunity.
“From a pitching standpoint this year, it was sort of a struggle from the get-go,” Hoyer said in his end-of-season press conference. “The great majority of our focus (this winter) is going to be on pitching acquisition.”
Cubs pitching offseason starts with rotation concerns
Principal starters Horton, Steele and Brown all spent time on the injured list, forcing Chicago to improvise with midseason replacements that delivered uneven results. Kevin Gausman, acquired from the Blue Jays according to ESPN, compiled a 4.83 ERA after joining the Cubs and gave up three runs in three innings in the wild card round. Clay Holmes, a ground ball specialist the team counted on according to Sporting News, posted an 8.24 ERA in four September starts and never appeared in the playoffs.
The Cubs will have at least three rotation spots to fill, with Horton, Steele and Brown expected to return from injuries but carrying uncertainty about their health and availability. Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and other pitchers are set to hit free agency, leaving significant holes to address.
The bullpen’s collapse
The relief corps proved equally problematic. Hunter Harvey, signed to a free agent deal, never threw a pitch for Chicago while collecting $6 million in salary. Phil Maton appeared in 31 games with a 6.18 ERA and is signed through 2027 for $7.25 million. Both were key 2025 acquisitions that the Cubs banked on to repeat their success.
“I did a poor job in the bullpen this year, full stop,” Hoyer said. “Some of that was based on injuries to some guys we were really counting on, but some of it was based on poor performance, some poor acquisitions.”
The bullpen dysfunction became acute in the season’s second half, when the Cubs blew multiple ninth-inning leads and eventually lost home field advantage in the postseason. The club used a franchise-record 14 pitchers to record at least one save.
The contrast with position players
Hoyer stressed the urgency by highlighting the gap between the Cubs’ strengths and weaknesses. The position-player group led baseball in defensive quality and offensive balance. The club had balanced power, drew walks at a strong clip and struck out infrequently, dimensions that made the pitching staff’s struggles all the more glaring.
“I think our position playing group was the best in baseball,” Hoyer said. “We have to focus our resources and energy on the pitching side predominantly.”
That reality means the Cubs may be willing to let free agents Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki leave rather than exhaust resources on position-player depth. Younger outfielders such as Kevin Alcantara and Matt Shaw can fill those roles, freeing up funds and attention for the pitching overhaul.
A full organizational review
Hoyer outlined an organization-wide evaluation that extends beyond trades and free agent signings. The Cubs plan to examine “scouting, player development, Major League development, Major League acquisitions” to understand why the pitching infrastructure failed to match the excellence on offense.
The home run problem may stem from stuff issues, fly-ball tendencies or pitcher health, areas Hoyer said the organization needs to address systematically.
A potential lockout looms, which Hoyer expects could create a sprint of activity in November followed by an empty period before a second wave of signings.
What’s next
The Cubs’ roster-building challenge will require balancing the return of injured starters with external additions and the uncertainty around who among Horton, Steele and Brown can be counted on in 2027. Pitching upgrades will dominate the front office’s agenda, with free agency and the trade market likely sources for arms that can match the quality of the lineup.
Reporting from ESPN, Sporting News, Chicagotribune and MLB.com contributed to this story.
