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    Cubs Expected To Target Dylan Cease This Offseason

    Is the Cubs' hard-throwing prodigal son set to return to the north side in 2026?

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    It's no secret that heading into the playoffs, starting pitching was the Chicago Cubs' biggest area of concern.  Initial indications from the local writers are that impact pitching will be the biggest focus this offseason, with Dylan Cease the first specific name to hit the rumor mill via Bruce Levine.

    Cease is generally considered to be one of the "Big 3" free agent starters this winter, along with Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez.  Cease's career has been marred by a good deal of inconsistency, but he's been a model of health (leads MLB in games started the past 5 years) and is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in the league (one of only 10 pitchers in 2025 to throw 100 IP and average more than 97 MPH on his fastball).  Most days, he looks the part of a prototypical ace.

    While a starting pitcher set to get north of $150M is not usually what we think of for a Jed Hoyer target, the team enters 2026 with relatively few roster holes.  The Cubs also have an extensive history with Cease.  They initially drafted Dylan in 2014 (along with Kyle Schwarber and Justin Steele), and based on reporting from NorthsideBaseball's own Matt Trueblood the team had extensive conversations with the Padres around reacquiring Cease last spring.

    Expect the Cubs to be tied to a wide variety of arms this winter.  But given the team's roster heading into the winter and their history with Dylan Cease, it is notable that this is the first rumor out of the chute this offseason.

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    javy knows my name

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

    I get it. I totally understand what you are saying. I just don’t think that will happen. And besides that, I really don’t think the Cubs ownership believes that will happen. I see this as just an excuse for them not to spend. IMO there is no way salaries go down in the next CBA and no way penalties will be stricter and/or kick in at a lower payroll limit then they are now. There is also no way there is a salary cap. Which, to me, means it will have little consequences on how the Cubs run their team. Signing a mega deal or any multi year deal for any of the big name guys, or even the next tier of FA will not hurt the Cubs, no matter the outcome of the new CBA. 

    This sort of presupposes that the only reason they sign guys to large contracts is to appease the fans. I don't think they do anything just to make us happy. So I don't buy that they'd jump on this excuse to not spend when they only ever do anything that's in their own interest anyway

    Rcal10

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, javy knows my name said:

    This sort of presupposes that the only reason they sign guys to large contracts is to appease the fans. I don't think they do anything just to make us happy. So I don't buy that they'd jump on this excuse to not spend when they only ever do anything that's in their own interest anyway

    Absolutely. But every year they have some kind of phantom excuse. For a few years it was the large losses they took due to Covid. Then it was we want to keep money for the trade deadline, so we can be aggressive. Now it is they are worried about the next CBA. Once the lockout ends they will go back to the large losses they incurred due to the lock out. Fact is, they will never spend what most here feel they should. But they will always have a reason why. This is a convenient reason why. All I am saying is no matter what the new agreement entails it will not have any real consequences to the Cubs and how they conduct business. And whether they signed a guy or two this off season to a multi year or even mega contract, it still wouldn’t hinder they once play resumes. 

    • Like 2
    CubinNY

    Posted

    On 10/31/2025 at 10:49 AM, Rcal10 said:

    Absolutely. But every year they have some kind of phantom excuse. For a few years it was the large losses they took due to Covid. Then it was we want to keep money for the trade deadline, so we can be aggressive. Now it is they are worried about the next CBA. Once the lockout ends they will go back to the large losses they incurred due to the lock out. Fact is, they will never spend what most here feel they should. But they will always have a reason why. This is a convenient reason why. All I am saying is no matter what the new agreement entails it will not have any real consequences to the Cubs and how they conduct business. And whether they signed a guy or two this off season to a multi year or even mega contract, it still wouldn’t hinder they once play resumes. 

    If it’s going to have no effect on how they do business why is everyone talking about a lockout? It absolutely is going to affect how they do business. 




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