The Cubs’ two-year, $29MM take care of Matthew Boyd grew to become official earlier in the present day, locking within the veteran southpaw as the most recent member of the Wrigleyville rotation. Even with this signing now on the books, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report that the Cubs stay open to including extra beginning pitching, and Walker Buehler continues to be “on their radar.”
Boyd strains up as Chicago’s fourth starter, behind Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon. Javier Assad is the favourite for the fifth starter function, with the likes of Jordan Wicks, Hayden Wesneski, and Ben Brown additionally within the combine for begin, plus high prospect Cade Horton additionally on the verge of his MLB debut. Whereas this looks as if loads of depth already, the “you may by no means have sufficient pitching” mantra might apply, as Wicks, Brown, and Horton all missed a variety of time in 2024 on account of accidents.
Buying one more skilled starter by way of commerce or free company would enable the Cubs to make Assad its high depth arm, and it may be argued that Assad is overqualified for such a job given his stable 3.40 ERA over his 294 profession Main League innings. Since accidents are principally inevitable, nevertheless, it stands to motive that Assad would nonetheless get some extent of rotation work. Past Assad, one of many different pitchers may probably grow to be a commerce chip if the Cubs really feel safe within the variety of starters available.
The Cubs haven’t precisely been pinching pennies on the rotation throughout Jed Hoyer’s time as president of baseball operations, contemplating Taillon’s four-year, $68MM deal and Imanaga’s four-year, $53MM deal. Nevertheless, Chicago has trended away from buying on the very high of the pitching market to as an alternative pursue extra mid-range or shorter-term contracts like Taillon, Imanaga, Boyd, or (previously) Marcus Stroman or Drew Smyly.
Buehler would additionally doubtless fall into this class, as it’s extensively assumed that the righty will signal a one-year pact as one thing of a pillow contract within the wake of a disappointing 2024 season. Whereas that disappointment was actually tempered by a few nice postseason outings and a championship ring with the Dodgers, Buehler’s common season noticed him submit a 5.38 ERA with a bunch of below-average secondary metrics over 75 1/3 innings.
Since Buehler didn’t pitch in any respect in 2023 whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, it appears potential that he may carry out higher in 2025 now that he has shaken off the rust. The baseball world hasn’t forgotten how dynamic Buehler seemed previous to that TJ process, and this sort of upside potential has led to curiosity from not simply the Cubs, but additionally suc publicly recognized suitors because the Braves, Yankees, Mets, and Athletics.
As Mooney and Sharma word, it shouldn’t be thought of a lock that Buehler will obtain only a one-year contract, given how a number of pitchers have already exceeded expectations within the first month of free company. As such, Mooney/Sharma really feel the Cubs may want to keep away from the free agent market and as an alternative pivot to including a starter (or a reliever, or lineup assist) in a commerce. Information on that entrance won’t develop till Juan Soto indicators, which might then maybe clear the Cubs’ path by way of discovering a possible commerce companion for one in every of Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki.
