There’s no doubt that pitching has been at the top of the Cubs’ front office's mind in the early part of the offseason. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said earlier this month that the team’s “largest focus will be on pitching.”

While we don’t know if Shota Imanaga accepting the qualifying offer changes the Cubs’ stance on starting pitching this winter, they could still look to add a top-of-the-line starting pitcher in the coming weeks. 

However, the Cubs have to move fast to acquire one of those top starters in free agency. 

Dylan Cease already signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays a few days ago, and Framber Valdez could be the next big-time free agent to come off the board this offseason. 

According to MLB Insider Hector Gomez, the New York Mets appear to be the favorite to sign the former Astros pitcher in free agency. Gomez predicts the Mets will sign him for a six-year, $200 million contract. 

If that is indeed the expected contract that Valdez will get in free agency, the Cubs don’t have a real shot of signing the two-time All-Star. 

Adding Valdez would definitely make the Cubs’ rotation a lot more dangerous. He has finished with a sub-3.50 ERA in three of the past five seasons and ended the 2024 campaign with a 2.91 ERA and 169 strikeouts across 28 starts. 

Although the southpaw is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career (3.66 ERA across 192 innings), Valdez has been one of the top workhorse pitchers in baseball over the past few years. The left-hander has the second-most innings pitched in the Majors since the start of the 2022 season (767 ⅔ innings). 

Having a pitcher like that would be so nice for the Cubs. The team could trust him to take the ball in pivotal games, and he could go deep in any game that he is pitching on the mound. 

The reality, though, is that the Cubs are not going to pay a pitcher over $200 million in free agency. The front office has never given out a contract to a pitcher worth more than $155 million, and that won’t change with Valdez. 

So, it appears the Cubs will be out on another top-of-the-line starting pitcher in free agency. Their best chance to land a No. 1 or No. 2 starter will probably come via the trade market.