ESPN Writer Predicts Cubs To Make A "Splash" This Offseason

The Chicago Cubs will have a busy offseason ahead. 

The front office will need to replace several players in free agency. Players like Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Carson Kelly, and Michael Conforto could all find new homes this offseason. 

Boyd and Kelly both declined their mutual options to become free agents, while Holmes declined his $12 million player option. Those three players will now officially be on the open market for any team to sign. 

Now there’s one final chance for Suzuki to return to the team after the Cubs extended the $23.15 million qualifying offer to him for the 2027 season. However, the Japanese slugger's chances of playing on that qualifying offer next year remain slim. 

With all those free agents, the Cubs will have to make some notable moves. 

The biggest question mark surrounding this team right now is the rotation. Losing five starters from a season ago will surely add some uncertainty. Those potential losses leave the North Siders in a weird spot right now. 

If the season started today, the Cubs’ rotation would consist of Ben Brown, Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Javier Assad, and Braxton Garrett. The team obviously can't go into the season with that group of pitchers. 

The Cubs also have some question marks in the outfield since Happ and Suzuki could both leave in free agency. They will need to replace both players at the corner outfield spots and add some depth at the position as well since Conforto and Tyrone Taylor are also free agents. 

Those question marks could force the Cubs to be more aggressive this offseason than in prior years. That’s why ESPN writer Buster Olney believes the North Siders are one of the teams that could “make a splash” this offseason. 

“The Cubs have a group of veterans in their lineup who are win-now players, like Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch, and they need to match that by enhancing their pitching,” Olney wrote. 

It would make sense for the Cubs to make a big splash this offseason, like they did last offseason when they signed Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract and traded away top prospect Owen Caissie for Cabrera. 

While it remains to be seen what that splash move will be, Olney believes the Cubs could go big this offseason. After all, this team needs help in several areas ahead of the 2027 season.