The Chicago Cubs enter this offseason with more questions than answers-and one looming decision that could reshape the team’s direction for 2026 and beyond. The future of Kyle Tucker remains uncertain, and while all signs currently point to him not returning, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Cubs are in a pivotal moment, especially when you look at the state of their starting rotation.

There were some real bright spots in 2025. Rookie Cade Horton didn’t just hold his own-he flashed the kind of stuff that turns front offices into believers and fans into dreamers.

Meanwhile, Shota Imanaga kept doing what many expected him to do when he first landed on the North Side: pitch like a front-line starter. The command, the poise, the ability to change speeds-it’s all there.

That one-two combo? It gives the Cubs something to build around.

But make no mistake-depth was a problem for this rotation. When it came time for the postseason push, Chicago simply didn’t have enough reliable arms to lean on. Injuries, inconsistencies, and a lack of established mid-rotation presence cost them in high-leverage moments.

Enter Dylan Cease.

According to recent contract projections, Cease is expected to command something in the neighborhood of five years, $125 million-a serious investment, but one that aligns with what upper-tier swing-and-miss starters are commanding in this pitching economy. That figure would put him just below the deal Tyler Glasnow landed with the Dodgers (five years, $136.5 million), and frankly, the comparison makes a lot of sense. Both are high-strikeout pitchers capable of ace-level dominance when things are clicking, even if the ride gets a little bumpy from start to finish.

Cease made 32 starts this past season-essentially a full workload-and while the 4.55 ERA might not jump off the page, take a deeper look. He struck out **215 hitters in 168 innings.

** That’s elite swing-and-miss stuff. Some of the advanced metrics suggest that Cease was a victim of bad luck more than bad performance, pointing to things like defensive efficiency and batted-ball variance as culprits behind the elevated ERA.

Simply put: the stuff is still nasty. And stuff plays-especially in October.

For a Cubs front office that has historically picked its spots when it comes to aggressive spending, this would be a sizable move. But it’s also the kind of move that signals intent.

Adding Cease wouldn’t just plug a rotation hole-it’d elevate the entire unit and add another high-ceiling arm to slot behind (or even alongside) Horton and Imanaga. That’s the kind of trio contenders lean on deep into the fall.

Now, the Cubs won’t be alone in their pursuit. The San Diego Padres are still viewed as the favorites to retain Cease, and other clubs with deeper pockets or more urgent timelines could easily jump into the mix. But if you’re Chicago, and you’re serious about making the next leap, this is exactly the type of bidding war you entertain.

With a roster that saw flashes of postseason promise in 2025, the Cubs are at a crucial inflection point. Investing in someone like Dylan Cease would be a bold stroke-and maybe the one that brings it all together.