Chicago eyes a potential ace as the Cubs pursue former Phillies standout Ranger Suarez, aiming to bolster their rotation for a playoff push.
The Chicago Cubs appear to be in the market for a frontline starting pitcher.
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said earlier this offseason that pitching would be the team’s largest focus this winter, and the Cubs could use a No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher in their rotation in 2026 and beyond.
After missing out on Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, Chicago could shift its focus to other free-agent pitchers. The Cubs have been linked to Zac Gallen in the past, and the front office will likely be involved with other pitchers as well.
One pitcher whose name hasn’t been brought up much in rumors that could be a solid fit for the North Siders is Ranger Suarez.
Suarez hasn’t gotten much attention on the free-agent market thus far, but he would be a big-time get for the Cubs. The left-hander is coming off the best season of his career, in which he logged career-highs in both innings pitched (157 ⅓ innings) and strikeouts (151).
The biggest concern with Suarez, though, is his injury history. He has made under 28 starts in three straight seasons and hasn’t thrown more than 158 innings in any season in his career. The 30-year-old missed time at the beginning of last year due to a back injury that he also dealt with in 2024.
However, Suarez has been one of the most consistent pitchers on the mound when healthy. He has finished with a sub-3.50 ERA in back-to-back seasons and would bring postseason experience to this Chicago rotation.
He has given up just one run in his last two postseason starts, which included allowing just one run across five strong innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 National League Division Series.
Therefore, landing Suarez in free agency would give the Cubs a potential ace for both the regular season and postseason. Chicago has also recently been linked to the 30-year-old by two different insiders.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com looked at where things stood with some of the top free agents remaining. He listed the Cubs as a potential target for the former Phillies pitcher. Then, Jon Heyman of the New York Post said Chicago is one of the teams interested in Suarez.
"The Orioles, Giants, Mets, and Cubs are among teams linked to Suarez," Heyman wrote.
With the Cubs needing a top-of-the-line starting pitcher, they could be in serious play for the former 2024 All-Star. Chicago has around $38 million left on its payroll until it hits the first luxury tax, which means the team has the money to land a pitcher of Suarez’s caliber.
It all comes down to whether the Cubs will actually want to spend top dollar for a starting pitcher.