{"id":145195,"date":"2026-01-25T22:55:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T22:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=145195"},"modified":"2026-01-25T22:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T22:55:50","slug":"%f0%9f%8e%af-inside-projection-the-chicago-cubs-are-quietly-being-framed-as-a-far-more-dangerous-pitching-team-heading-into-2026-and-insiders-believe-the-shift-is-already-underway-what-looks-like-p","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=145195","title":{"rendered":"\ud83c\udfaf INSIDE PROJECTION: The Chicago Cubs are quietly being framed as a far more dangerous pitching team heading into 2026, and insiders believe the shift is already underway. What looks like patience on the surface may actually be a calculated buildup that positions Chicago ahead of expectations long before results become obvious."},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs are largely finished reshaping their pitching staff as they prepare for the 2026 Major League Baseball season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Are<\/p>\n

With spring training approaching, the front office appears content with the group it has assembled, signaling that any remaining moves would likely be minor depth additions rather than headline-grabbing signings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This strategic pause has prompted an important question among fans and analysts alike.<\/em><\/p>\n

Are the Cubs actually a better pitching team in 2026 than they were a season ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite lingering rumors connecting Chicago to high-profile arms such as Zac Gallen<\/span><\/span>, the likelihood of committing another $15 million or more annually to a pitcher seems slim at this stage of the offseason.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From a financial and roster-balancing standpoint, the Cubs appear unwilling to make that level of investment so late in the process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That reality effectively locks in the pitching group the Cubs will carry into the new season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With that clarity in place, now is an ideal moment to compare the 2025 pitching staff with the projected 2026 version.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To properly assess whether meaningful improvement has occurred, both the starting rotation and the bullpen must be evaluated independently.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each unit tells a slightly different story.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Rotation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At first glance, the Cubs\u2019 rotation entering 2026 looks remarkably similar to the one they fielded a year ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matthew Boyd<\/span><\/span>, Shota Imanaga<\/span><\/span>, Cade Horton<\/span><\/span>, and Jameson Taillon<\/span><\/span> are all returning after pitching significant innings in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Continuity alone, however, does not tell the full story of why this rotation projects to be stronger.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most significant internal addition comes in the form of Justin Steele<\/span><\/span>, who is expected to rejoin the rotation at some point during the first half of the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steele was limited to just four appearances in 2025, a frustrating setback that forced the Cubs to rely on less-proven depth options.<\/strong><\/p>\n

His return alone represents a substantial upgrade.<\/em><\/p>\n

Beyond internal health improvements, the Cubs also made a decisive external move by trading for Edward Cabrera<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cabrera is coming off the best season of his career, posting a 3.53 ERA while striking out 150 batters across 137\u2154 innings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those numbers reflect not only improved command but also increased durability, two traits the Cubs desperately needed in the middle of their rotation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When fully healthy, Chicago can realistically deploy a six-man group consisting of Boyd, Imanaga, Horton, Taillon, Steele, and Cabrera.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That level of depth stands in stark contrast to last season\u2019s circumstances.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2025, the Cubs were forced to lean heavily on Ben Brown<\/span><\/span>, who made 15 starts despite entering the year as a depth option rather than a core rotation piece.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brown\u2019s role was more a reflection of necessity than long-term planning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That scenario appears far less likely to repeat in 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

This year, Brown slots in as the Cubs\u2019 No. 9 starter, trailing the six primary arms as well as Colin Rea<\/span><\/span> and Javier Assad<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That alone illustrates the improved structural integrity of the rotation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps the most telling indicator of progress is the role Jameson Taillon is expected to play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taillon has posted a sub-3.70 ERA in back-to-back seasons, yet he enters 2026 projected as the team\u2019s No. 5 starter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That is a luxury few teams can claim.<\/em><\/p>\n

Taken as a whole, the Cubs\u2019 rotation is undeniably stronger than it was one year ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Cubs<\/p>\n

\n

Bullpen<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If the rotation tells a story of stability and reinforcement, the bullpen reflects transformation and uncertainty.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cubs will enter the 2026 season with a relief corps that looks almost entirely different from last year\u2019s group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Veterans such as Brad Keller<\/span><\/span>, Drew Pomeranz<\/span><\/span>, and Andrew Kittredge<\/span><\/span> all departed during the offseason.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In response, Chicago was one of the more active teams on the relief pitcher market.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cubs signed Phil Maton<\/span><\/span>, Hoby Milner<\/span><\/span>, Jacob Webb<\/span><\/span>, and Hunter Harvey<\/span><\/span> to Major League contracts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They also re-signed Caleb Thielbar<\/span><\/span> following a resurgent 2025 campaign.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With so many new faces, evaluating whether the bullpen improved becomes significantly more complex.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only two meaningful pieces carry over from last season\u2019s group, Thielbar and Daniel Palencia<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone else is new.<\/em><\/p>\n

That lack of continuity creates both opportunity and risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The departure of Brad Keller may be more impactful than many realize, given his ability to absorb high-leverage innings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drew Pomeranz quietly emerged as a reliable left-handed option, filling a role that often goes underappreciated.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew Kittredge was particularly effective late in the year, posting a 1.54 ERA across his final 12 appearances.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Replacing that collective reliability is no small task.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the same time, the incoming group brings intriguing upside.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maton and Milner are both coming off solid seasons, providing a degree of baseline stability.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Webb has posted a sub-3.05 ERA in consecutive seasons, suggesting consistent effectiveness rather than a fluke.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Harvey, when healthy, profiles as a late-inning weapon capable of missing bats at an elite rate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Health, of course, remains the key variable.<\/em><\/p>\n

When weighing the two groups, last year\u2019s bullpen may hold a slight edge entering the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the margin is extremely thin.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2026 bullpen has a wider range of outcomes, but also a higher theoretical ceiling.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"ClutchPoints'<\/p>\n

\n

Verdict<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Taken in its entirety, the Cubs\u2019 pitching staff is better positioned in 2026 than it was in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The rotation has clearly improved, both in quality and depth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The addition of Edward Cabrera gives Chicago six legitimate starting options, reducing the likelihood of overexposing unproven arms.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justin Steele\u2019s return alone changes the complexion of the staff.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the bullpen enters the season with more uncertainty, it also carries significant upside.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If even two or three of the new additions perform near their recent peaks, the relief corps could surpass last year\u2019s group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That outcome is far from guaranteed, but it is plausible.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Cubs\u2019 front office, led by Jed Hoyer<\/span><\/span>, deserves credit for methodically addressing pitching needs without overextending resources.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2026 Cubs may not feature a singular dominant ace or a lockdown bullpen on paper, but they appear deeper, more balanced, and better equipped to withstand the inevitable attrition of a long season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a division where consistency often decides October fates, that improvement could prove decisive.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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