Cubs Offseason Mega Thread

[Rcal10]

43 minutes ago, Hunter said:

I don't think you can count on any significant amount of innings from Steele, especially as a starter. 

I think we will know what to expect from Steele based on what the Cubs decide on him. If they offer him arbitration I think they, at least, do expect him to start and five innings. If they don’t he won’t even be in the team. 

[Stratos]

57 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

They cant sleep on the bullpen and just rely on who they have, they need help closing games out. 

They dont need 3 new starters, 2 is enough, especially if it 2 TOR types.

Steele and Cabrera will definitely be in rotation,  they just need 2 new starters.

Then you have Brown, Assad, and Garrett for the 5th spot,  with prospects like Wiggins,  Birdsell, McCullough,  and maybe even Townsend waiting in the wing.

They have 5 key SP leaving in FA plus Rea and Civale, they can't pick up just 2.

Steele is a huge question mark health and performance wise, Brown's neck is fragile, Cabrera was terrible and injury-plagued.

If they don't grab at least 4 SP they'll probably be dealing more prospects at the deadline.  Just get pitchers now when the price is cheaper AND they'll have them for the whole season.

Edited Wednesday at 05:56 PM by Stratos

[Nolo]

30 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I agree. You have Webb and Rolison as well and then a collection of other possibilities. Maybe Brown.

Brown, Webb, Rolison, Miller, Maton, Martin, Zeferjahn, Palencia

Does this sound about right for opening day bullpen if the season started today?

It's not a bad foundation. Would like to see at least one more high K rate guy.

Shelby Miller coming off an injury and 36 years old next season, huge question mark. Martin and Maton also coming off of pretty severe injuries. Ben Brown roll the dice, but I am expecting him to be okay if moved to the pen. It's really tough to write these guys in with sharpie. Outside of that you have options you can bring up and down like Assad, Garrett ... but they're not exactly bullpen guys in the traditional sense. Then you have other options like Wiggins (not ready IMO) and Wicks (meh).

I guess they just picked up Eric Orze, but is he really what this pen needs? I guess at the end of the day it's another option.

So the guys you can write in sharpie are Webb, Rolison, Zeferjahn, and Palencia. Assad and Garrett as depth starters or long relief (or if the season started today likely in the starting rotation).

Not sure if I am trying to make a point here, just working this out in my head.

Edited Wednesday at 06:20 PM by Nolo

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

They need to sign at least one guy of substance for the bullpen. Loaisiga is a good fit. Fangraphs has him at 6 mil AAV.

[mul21]

17 minutes ago, Stratos said:

They have 5 key SP leaving in FA plus Rea and Civale, they can't pick up just 2.

Steele is a huge question mark health and performance wise, Brown's neck is fragile, Cabrera was terrible and injury-plagued.

If they don't grab at least 4 SP they'll probably be dealing more prospects at the deadline.  Just get pitchers now when the price is cheaper AND they'll have them for the whole season.

I'll be shocked if they bring in more than 3 guys for the rotation.  You have to figure they'll count on Cabrera and some combination of Steele, Assad, Garrett, and maybe Brown for the other non-FA/trade spot.  If you need reinforcements at the deadline, so be it.

[Bertz]

8 minutes ago, Nolo said:

Brown, Webb, Rolison, Miller, Maton, Martin, Zeferjahn, Palencia

Does this sound about right for opening day bullpen if the season started today?

It's not a bad foundation. Would like to see at least one more high K rate guy.

Shelby Miller coming off an injury and 36 years old next season, huge question mark. Martin and Maton also coming off of pretty severe injuries. Ben Brown roll the dice, but I am expecting him to be okay if moved to the pen. It's really tough to write these guys in with sharpie. Outside of that you have options you can bring up and down like Assad, Garrett ... but they're not exactly bullpen guys in the traditional sense. Then you have other options like Wiggins (not ready IMO) and Wicks (meh).

So the guys you can write in sharpie are Webb, Rolison, Zeferjahn, and Palencia. Assad and Garrett as depth starters or long relief. 

Not sure if I am trying to make a point here, just working this out in my head.

I would expect two long relievers.  As discussed there's a lot of fragility in the rotation, and Assad is the only optionable SP we have who you'd be comfortable starting a game in April. 

So I think one of Brown/Cabrera/Garrett as one LRP (I'd guess Garrett), and then one TBD acquisition.

So the bullpen is pretty set if Jed so chooses:

Palencia

Zef

Webb

Rolison

Miller

Maton

2 aforementioned LRPs

You can still sign a short reliever if you want, inevitably someone in the spring will end up on the IL, but on paper I there's enough to go on Opening Day.

[mul21]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

I would expect two long relievers.  As discussed there's a lot of fragility in the rotation, and Assad is the only optionable SP we have who you'd be comfortable starting a game in April. 

So I think one of Brown/Cabrera/Garrett as one LRP (I'd guess Garrett), and then one TBD acquisition.

So the bullpen is pretty set if Jed so chooses:

Palencia

Zef

Webb

Rolison

Miller

Maton

2 aforementioned LRPs

You can still sign a short reliever if you want, inevitably someone in the spring will end up on the IL, but on paper I there's enough to go on Opening Day.

I'll be moderately surprised if Civale isn't back in some capacity (likely as one of the LRPs you're talking about) based on the level of success he's had in both stints with the Cubs recently.

[chibears55]

1 hour ago, Rcal10 said:

Honestly, chibear, do you actually read other responses or just skim over them so you can write something? You originally listed Brown in the rotation, and they needed 2 starters and at least one pen arm. I responded that I see Brown as THE 1 PEN ARM, and 3 starters are now needed instead.  What makes you think any of the pen arms you want them to sign will be better than Brown? Any that may be better will also cost a lot more. I am giving you the pen arm you feel they have to have. If you take him out of the rotation spot you have him in, Brown is the pen arm. 

Brown could be a 5th starter or a depth starter/bullpen guy, as of now we dont know what Hoyer/Counsell plan is for him.

He made 8 starts before he got hurt and was one of their best starter with a 1.80 ERA, so why wouldn't they consider him in the rotation if hes healthy and ready to go ?

For me, id rather they spend money on a solid bullpen arm then a 5th starter, especially if Brown could be better than any 5th starter they get.

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, Hunter said:

I don't think you can count on any significant amount of innings from Steele, especially as a starter. 

As of now hes supposedly healthy and ready to go whenever they report, so even if they start him out slow and limit his pitches in April, he'll be in the rotation. 

[chibears55]

2 hours ago, mul21 said:

You keep saying this and it's just not accurate.  Palencia has successfully closed out lots of games and had a weird season with injuries but appeared to be back on track at the end of the year.  Zeferjahn is another perfectly good late inning guy and if either of them falter, MIller and Maton (who was clearly off because of the knee issue) can help.  There's no need to invest a bunch of money in an unpredictable roster spot when there are much clearer needs at starter and OF.

Supposedly they are heavily linked to Taiwan closer Jyun-Yue Tseng. 🤷

 

Cubs 2026 Bullpen 

ERA after 7th inning was 4.38

whip after 7th inning was 1.34

24 blown saves in 53 opportunities 

They need late inning help

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:14 PM by chibears55

[mul21]

23 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Supposedly they are heavily linked to Taiwan closer Jyun-Yue Tseng. 🤷

 

Cubs 2026 Bullpen 

ERA after 7th inning was 4.38

whip after 7th inning was 1.34

24 blown saves in 53 opportunities 

They need late inning help

 

How many of those happened with Palencia and Zef on the 26 man roster?

[mk49]

20 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Supposedly they are heavily linked to Taiwan closer Jyun-Yue Tseng. 🤷

 

Cubs 2026 Bullpen 

ERA after 7th inning was 4.38

whip after 7th inning was 1.34

24 blown saves in 53 opportunities 

They need late inning help

 

Supposedly, the cubs already made a minor league offer.  Tseng hasn't accepted it yet.  If he comes over, I think he would play in Iowa first.

[mul21]

39 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Brown could be a 5th starter or a depth starter/bullpen guy, as of now we dont know what Hoyer/Counsell plan is for him.

He made 8 starts before he got hurt and was one of their best starter with a 1.80 ERA, so why wouldn't they consider him in the rotation if hes healthy and ready to go ?

For me, id rather they spend money on a solid bullpen arm then a 5th starter, especially if Brown could be better than any 5th starter they get.

By all accounts, they still have no real idea what the cause of the neck issue is so counting on him to be a starter is probably a bad plan.

[chibears55]

19 minutes ago, mul21 said:

By all accounts, they still have no real idea what the cause of the neck issue is so counting on him to be a starter is probably a bad plan.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown suffered a stress reaction (or partial stress fracture) in the C5 vertebra in his neck, which was aggravated and re-injured by the physical strain of his pitching mechanics.

 

I dont disagree that they need to be cautious with this going into ST, but as of now he is cleared, ready to go for ST, and has been working on altering his pitching mechanics to alleviate stress on his neck.

 

 

 

[mul21]

4 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown suffered a stress reaction (or partial stress fracture) in the C5 vertebra in his neck, which was aggravated and re-injured by the physical strain of his pitching mechanics.

 

I dont disagree that they need to be cautious with this going into ST, but as of now he is cleared, ready to go for ST, and has been working on altering his pitching mechanics to alleviate stress on his neck.

 

 

 

Nowhere does that identify the cause or say he's fully cleared.  

[Nolo]

Alright let’s sign Skubal and Morejon. Hear me out.

Word is Morejon wants to start in 2027. Pay him as a starter or a dominant closer and it’s a win-win unless he gets hurt.

Can you imagine two left handed FREAK bulldogs as the #1–2 in Skubal and Morejon.

If a team plans to use him as a starter and bullpen backup plan I can justify the 3–4 years he’s probably looking for at 27 years old. 

Take Skubal out of the equation and I’m still on board for the Morejon starting idea. Padres did give him the QO so they must be pretty confident in whatever was bugging his shoulder in the playoffs.

Edited Wednesday at 09:33 PM by Nolo

[Jason Ross]

As it pertains to Morejon starting, I think it's important to remember that this is now the third offseason in a row that one of the best relievers on the market has been a "convert into SP option" with the prior two being Brad Keller (2025) and Jeff Hoffman (2024). Those two have combined for zero starts. You can argue some things like:

- Brad Keller and Jeff Hoffman had already been a failed starters at the MLB level 
- That they're both in a different situation than Morejon

And those things might be true. Yeah. But Morejon was also a starter in the minors so it's not entirely different and he moved off it for a reason.

Before this, the Giants tried that with Jordan Hicks. He was terrible. He has only since found success again in the bullpen. 

But it's interesting we're at, yet, another "maybe we can start this relief ace" offseason and the prior two never came close to that flip. I think it's more likely that Morejon never makes another start in his MLB career than he becomes an established SP, let alone a top of the rotation guy. 

He's a fun gamble, but that's what he is: a gamble in the rotation. One that costs a QO. 

[Bertz]

I wonder if Matt Wallner could be had for a song.

Absolutely disastrous 2026, but career .238/.353/.496 hitter vs. RHP with 33 dongs per 600 PAs.  He is going into arb 1 and out of options, while the Twins have a full OF/DH situation assuming Walker Jenkins is in MLB from Day 1

[Rcal10]

38 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I wonder if Matt Wallner could be had for a song.

Absolutely disastrous 2026, but career .238/.353/.496 hitter vs. RHP with 33 dongs per 600 PAs.  He is going into arb 1 and out of options, while the Twins have a full OF/DH situation assuming Walker Jenkins is in MLB from Day 1

He wouldn’t be a bad gamble for a left handed platoon bat. Then go with Ward, Robert or Taylor for a right handed bat and sign a catcher for $3M-$5M. Fill in the rest of the offense with Shaw, Ramirez, Alcantara and spend everything else on pitching. That should give them maybe $70 to $75M for pitching. Maybe Skubal, Holmes and Peterson can be added. Or if not Skubal, Rogers with Holmes and Soroka. They can spend a little more on the 3rd guy if Skubal isn’t signed. Maybe they even have a little extra for Civale. 

[Backtobanks]

Resign Suzuki ($26 per/4 years), resign Patterson ($13per/2 years), sign Rogers ($23 per/5years), trade Shaw or Ramirez for Hancock (minimum), Trade Shaw or Ramirez for Duran ($10 million) and Bello ($8 million), and resign Taylor (6million).  Added salary for 2027 - $86 million

LF: Duran/Taylor

RF:Suzuki

Rotation: Rogers, Hancock, Cabrera, Bello, Patterson ...............Assad, Garrett, Brown/Horton*, resign Civale/Rea ($7million)

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

They need to sign at least one guy of substance for the bullpen. Loaisiga is a good fit. Fangraphs has him at 6 mil AAV.

I think they'll wait for after the lockout if they add a pen guy of any substance.  Guys can get hurt during the winter and they'll better see how Maton and others are doing.  They said they traded Kittridge early because the money was better to keep for guys later in the winter.

For SP they'll prefer signing pre-lockout, but Skubal might slow some of that market.

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Backtobanks said:

Resign Suzuki ($26 per/4 years), resign Patterson ($13per/2 years), sign Rogers ($23 per/5years), trade Shaw or Ramirez for Hancock (minimum), Trade Shaw or Ramirez for Duran ($10 million) and Bello ($8 million), and resign Taylor (6million).  Added salary for 2027 - $86 million

LF: Duran/Taylor

RF:Suzuki

Rotation: Rogers, Hancock, Cabrera, Bello, Patterson ...............Assad, Garrett, Brown/Horton*, resign Civale/Rea ($7million)

I don’t hate this. But I don’t think you need to make the Boston trade. Just get Hancock and save that $18M for a bat. Or get a pitcher better than Peterson. Maybe Holmes for $7M more a year and then sign Conforto. They would have PCA, Seiya and then 3 guys to fill left field, and DH. Shaw, Alcantara, and Conforto. I wouldn’t sign Taylor either. I would give that money to a back up catcher and let Triantos take the last spot on the bench. 
Also sign Civale. 
Rotation of Rogers, Holmes, Hancock and Cabrera. Then the last guy can come from Steele, Brown, Assad or Garrett. Pen of Civale, one or more  guys who didn’t get the starting spot, Zeferjahn, Palencia, Miller, Maton, Rolison, Webb. 
The offense would be down Happ, but the rotation would be better. And, with health so would the pen. 

Edited yesterday at 02:57 AM by Rcal10

[Bull]

4 hours ago, mul21 said:

Nowhere does that identify the cause or say he's fully cleared.  

As someone who has suffered a minor break of c6, I predict he will likely never be good for a starter load.

[mk49]

28 minutes ago, Bull said:

As someone who has suffered a minor break of c6, I predict he will likely never be good for a starter load.

As someone who don't even know what c6 is, I agree with you.😀

[JunkyardWalrus]

39 minutes ago, mk49 said:

As someone who don't even know what c6 is, I agree with you.😀

You, good fan, are extremely lucky.