Entering the offseason, the Cubs needed to bolster their starting rotation. Although Justin Steele missed almost the entire 2025 season due to injury, the Cubs got rather lucky on the health front. Their depth was tested, as every team’s is during the course of a 162-game campaign, but it was a smoother ride than in past seasons.
Even with Steele’s return slated for May or June of 2026, Jed Hoyer knew starting pitching was a need. The uncertainty surrounding the current staff is too significant. The ceiling is rather high, but the floor is lower than that of most competitive teams due to injury risks.