The Chicago Cubs already have more than enough starting pitching, and committing big money to a seventh starter isn’t the right “all-in” move to make.
The Chicago Cubs have made some big-time moves this offseason, but the fan base isn’t satisfied.
Nor should they be.
If the Cubs were done adding and didn’t make another move before Spring Training, I still think this offseason would be viewed as an overall win. Chicago has positioned itself as the favorite in the NL Central and a legitimate World Series contender.
And at the end of the day, that was the objective.
But why would a Cubs fan settle? Why wouldn’t a Cubs fan want the team to add more talent?
It’s what the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to do every winter. They add star after star to cover up any holes that might pop up over the course of a season.
The Cubs are not spending anywhere close to what the Dodgers are spending, and the on-paper roster is already full. I’ve already made my case for why I don’t think the Cubs will make another significant move this offseason — and it’s rooted in the simple fact that Chicago doesn’t have room for more impact players on the 26-man roster.
But it appears the team is at least entertaining the idea of bringing in someone else.
Rumors this week have tied the Cubs to free-agent utilityman Miguel Andújar — a player who would provide a real upgrade to the bench, especially as a reserve outfielder — and right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen.
Gallen is the big fish here. He’s the name Cubs fans are rallying around, hoping to see signed in the coming weeks. Chicago was already teased with the idea of Gallen coming to the North Side earlier this offseason, when Bob Nightengale falsely reported his signing.
It’s a move I would have fully approved of at the time. But I’m not sure it makes much sense now.
The Cubs are already overcrowded when it comes to their starting rotation. They’ll likely open the year with Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Collin Rea — running a six-man rotation.
Rea will be holding the spot of Justin Steele, who won’t be back for Opening Day as he recovers from surgery, but could target early May for his return.
That six-man rotation is something the Cubs are genuinely considering, likely in an effort to protect arms and keep the staff at full strength later in the season. Chicago saw its pitching staff get worn down over the course of 2025 and limp into the postseason.
The current rotation is either inexperienced or has been ravaged by injuries in the past. Preserving innings early in the season to ensure longevity makes sense.
But is it sustainable over a full year? I don’t think so.
If you carry six starters, you only have room for seven bullpen arms. Over time, that’s going to wear your bullpen down.
Not to mention the fact that with Rea and Javier Assad both likely moving to the bullpen once Steele returns, the Cubs have already filled out the pen with MLB deals to free agents. That means at least one of those arms will need to be relocated to the minor leagues.
And all of this is without adding Gallen to the mix.
There’s the cliché saying that “you can never have too much pitching.” I’m not sure that’s actually true.
Signing Zac Gallen would leave the Cubs with seven MLB-caliber starters who all need innings — and most of them don’t come cheap.
Imanaga will make just over $22 million on his qualifying offer this season.
Taillon will make $17 million.
Boyd will make $14.5 million.
And Spotrac projects Gallen to land somewhere in the $17–18 million range annually on a long-term deal.
Then there’s Cabrera, who you just traded your top prospect for. Steele, an All-Star and legitimate ace when healthy. And Cade Horton, who was your best pitcher in 2025 and could very well be the best of the bunch again in 2026.
What do you even do with that group? Who moves to the bullpen? And how do you manage it without upsetting players?
Would the Cubs really trade Owen Caissie — a move I questioned at the time — for Edward Cabrera to address a need for right-handed starting pitching, only to turn around and sign a right-handed starter with a better track record?
Make that make sense.
I’m all for adding talent. I’m all for pushing your chips to the middle and not banking solely on unproven pieces to get you to the promised land.
But if there’s an “all-in” move to be made here, it’s not signing your seventh starting pitcher to a lucrative contract just to create more roster problems. It’s adding a right fielder, moving Seiya Suzuki to DH, and relegating Moses Ballesteros to a bench role.
It’s the same thing the Cubs did with Alex Bregman and Matt Shaw — and another big bat represents a far more significant “need,” if there even is one on this roster.
I’d have no choice but to question why that money wouldn’t instead go toward a player like Kyle Schwarber, who would completely transform this lineup without sacrificing any defensive integrity, especially with the Cubs already prepared to play Suzuki in right field anyway.
Talent is talent, I suppose. But signing Zac Gallen just doesn’t make much sense for the Chicago Cubs at this point.