With the calendar inching toward Christmas, the Chicago Cubs still have a glaring hole at the top of their rotation. And while the Winter Meetings came and went without much fanfare, the offseason is far from over.

There’s still time-and opportunity-for the Cubs to make a splash. But if you’re hoping that splash involves Tyler Glasnow, don’t hold your breath.

According to a recent report, the Dodgers are open to listening on offers for Glasnow, a move that could shake up the pitching market. On paper, he’s the kind of arm that makes front offices dream-big velocity, elite strikeout stuff, and the ability to dominate when he’s right.

But the key word there is when. Glasnow’s career has been defined as much by his time on the injured list as by his flashes of brilliance on the mound.

Let’s talk upside first-because it’s real. Glasnow made his first All-Star team in 2024, his debut season with the Dodgers, and posted a strong 2.90 FIP across 22 starts.

That kind of production is exactly what teams covet at the top of a playoff rotation. But the problem?

He didn’t pitch after early August due to an elbow issue. Fast forward to this past season, and it was shoulder inflammation that limited him to just 18 starts and 90 1/3 innings.

For a pitcher entering his age-32 season, that’s a tough track record to bet on.

Then there’s the contract. Glasnow is owed $32.5 million in both 2026 and 2027, with a $30 million club option for 2028 that, if declined, converts into a $21.5 million player option. That’s a hefty commitment for any team, let alone one like the Cubs, who’ve historically been cautious when it comes to long-term, high-dollar deals for starting pitchers.

The Cubs have made it clear in recent years: they’re not in the business of gambling on injury-prone arms with big price tags. Their front office, led by Jed Hoyer, has consistently prioritized durability and value over flash and risk.

A Glasnow trade would run counter to that philosophy. Even if the Dodgers were willing to eat some of the money to make a deal work-which, to be clear, is purely speculative-it’s hard to see the Cubs making that kind of move.

There’s also no indication that the Dodgers are actively shopping Glasnow. The report frames their stance more as a willingness to listen than a desire to offload him.

That’s a key distinction. This isn’t a salary dump.

It’s a team with pitching depth exploring its options.

Meanwhile, the Cubs still have other avenues to explore. The market remains full of intriguing arms-both in free agency and on the trade block.

Names like MacKenzie Gore, Edward Cabrera, and Joe Ryan are still floating around, and all could fit more cleanly into Chicago’s long-term plans. There’s time for Hoyer to find the right fit, and history suggests he’ll stay patient until the right opportunity presents itself.

So while Glasnow’s name may generate buzz-and his talent is undeniable-it’s hard to envision him anchoring the Cubs’ rotation in 2026. The risk is just too high, the price too steep, and the track record too shaky for a front office that’s made discipline its calling card.

The Cubs need a frontline starter, no question. But they’re not likely to find their answer in Los Angeles.