If Kyle Tucker does not return, the Cubs eye eight top free agents to bolster their roster, including some premiere starting pitchers.
Which starting pitcher would you most want the Cubs to sign?
The closer we get to the start of free agency, the more it looks like the Chicago Cubs won’t be bringing back Kyle Tucker for the 2026 season.
Tucker was recently projected to land a 10-year, $427 million contract, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic. That’s right in line with what Spotrac projects for his market value this winter.
The price tag keeps climbing, and the Cubs keep feeling like the wrong landing spot.
Chicago doesn’t owe Tucker that kind of deal — but make no mistake, they’re a worse team if he walks in free agency. That just means Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office will need to reallocate that money wisely.
Fortunately, this winter’s free-agent class offers several enticing options who could make the Cubs a more complete team than simply running it back with Tucker. And Bowden, in his breakdown of the Top 50 free agents of the 2025–26 offseason, pegged the Cubs as a potential fit for plenty of big names — including eight new players from other teams.
Starting Pitching Targets
Framber Valdez headlines the list. The left-hander is one of the best starting pitchers on the market and ranks as Bowden’s No. 4 overall player. Valdez has posted a sub-3.70 ERA in each of the past six seasons, all as a full-time starter. Since 2020, he’s gone 73–44 with a 3.23 ERA across 973 innings. His projected deal: six years, $190 million.
If Valdez feels too pricey, the Cubs could turn to another lefty: Ranger Suárez of the Phillies. Suárez isn’t the prototypical ace, but he’s mastered the art of pitching and grades out extremely well in advanced metrics. Since 2021, he’s 46–34 with a 3.25 ERA over 694.1 innings. Bowden projects his deal at six years, $164 million.
There’s also a familiar name in the mix — Dylan Cease, the former Cubs prospect dealt to the White Sox back in 2017. Cease has made at least 32 starts in five straight seasons and owns a 56–47 record with a 3.72 ERA and 1,106 strikeouts over that span. He’s had highs and lows, but when he’s on, few pitchers are more dominant.
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai could also draw interest. At just 154 pounds, Imai reaches the upper 90s with his fastball and pairs it with a wipeout slider and strong secondary mix. He posted a 1.91 ERA in Japan this season and could slot nicely into the middle of a big-league rotation. His projected contract: around $154 million.
Finally, there’s the buy-low duo of Zac Gallen and Michael King.
Gallen is coming off a rough 2025 campaign (15 losses, 4.83 ERA) but had a career 3.29 ERA across 143 starts before that. If the Cubs believe he can bounce back to All-Star form, a long-term deal north of $100 million could prove a steal.
King, meanwhile, posted a 2.95 ERA in 2024 but was limited to just 73.1 innings in 2025 due to injury. Still, he’s been excellent since joining San Diego’s rotation and is projected for a three-year, $75 million contract — the only pitcher in this group expected to sign for less than nine figures.
Position Player Targets
If the Cubs go cheaper on pitching, that could set up a splash elsewhere — maybe for a star bat.
Bo Bichette is one of the most intriguing names on the market. The Toronto shortstop (and reigning AL champion) could draw interest at multiple positions — shortstop, third base, or even second. He’s posted an OPS above .800 in every season but one since debuting in 2019 and just hit .311 with 44 doubles in 2025.
Then there’s Alex Bregman, whom the Cubs pursued last offseason but never closed on. The 31-year-old had a strong bounce-back year in Boston, hitting .821 OPS with 28 doubles and 18 homers, and is projected for a six-year, $182 million deal.
And if Hoyer wants to keep some of that familiar slugging energy around, Kyle Schwarber could even re-enter the picture as a fan-favorite reunion play.
If Tucker’s market truly reaches the $400 million range, the Cubs are right to look elsewhere. This roster doesn’t need one megastar — it needs balance, reliability, and health.
Whether that means a rotation headlined by Framber Valdez or a lineup bolstered by Bo Bichette, the Cubs have the payroll flexibility to get creative. The question is whether they’ll use it to build a more complete team… or chase a headline name that keeps them stuck in neutral.