Chicago Cubs: Rumors are not true, Cubs will not be big spenders this winter, per insider sources

The Chicago Cubs were eliminated in Game Five of the NLDS by the Milwaukee Brewers, but finished the season with a very clear idea of what they needed to improve their postseason chances the following year.

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In short, it’s pitching.

The Cubs’ starting rotation became a two-man operation by the last part of the NLDS, with only Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd deemed trustworthy starters.

The bullpen, beyond Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz, was equally shaky. And now Chicago is staring down the reality of having to replace all but two of their relievers as the rest of the relief corps drifts off to free agency.

The Chicago Cubs’ need for pitching

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At the GM meetings in Las Vegas this week, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer flat-out told the world that pitching is the team’s primary target this winter.

“We’re gonna have an active offseason,” Hoyer told media. “Take that for what it’s worth. I think the largest focus will be on pitching; I think that’s obvious looking at our depth chart. We’re in pretty good position on the position player side; on the pitching side, we’re thinner.”

But don’t expect a big-spending winter, says insider

However, recent reports regarding the Cubs finally being in on big-ticket free agent elite arms may not be accurate, according to one insider.

Per David Kaplan’s “Coffee with Kap” YouTube report:

“I was told yesterday by some very informed people in Major League Baseball that the Chicago Cubs are NOT going to be big players in free agency. Yeah, they’ll add some talent. Yes, they definitely will. But they are not going to be playing in the deep end of the pool with long-term contracts. That’s just not how it’s going to go.

…That is not a Jed Hoyer call; that is an ownership call. That’s an ownership thing to align yourself where you don’t want to push all your chips in and spend big money. Could they trade for a good player? Sure, because they have a pretty talented team. But in terms of all of us getting excited when we hear Bob Nightengale from USA Today saying ‘Hey the Cubs could be one of the surprise teams in free agency” I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Pending labor dispute turning Cubs sheepish?

Kaplan blames the Cubs’ conservative mindset this offseason on uncertainty regarding the pending MLB labor dispute and possible 2027 lockout. He also mentions the Cubs, alongside other major market teams, the Yankees and Red Sox, as proponents of imposing a salary cap– something which will be the largest point of contention between owners and the players organization.

At his end-of-season wrap-up press conference last month, Hoyer touched on what the labor/ownership scuffle means to him and to execs from the other teams.

“The truth of the matter is, we don’t know what the future holds in that regard, and certainly those decisions are going to happen well above me, and those conversations will happen for a long time,” Hoyer said. “So I think you can pay attention to it. I think it’s something that you have to consider.

“But we don’t know what’s going to happen, and there’s real uncertainty there for us and for 29 other teams.”

Some feel that the already-conservative Cubs may play it cautious this offseason and look to avoid elite-tier stars in favor of players who can be had on shorter contracts for less money.

The plan wouldn’t deviate too much from the current Cubs strategy of shopping for bargains and rehab projects, especially when it comes to pitching. The frustrating part for fans, though, is that the Cubs’ one clear and obvious need is an elite-level front-of-rotation pitcher. If Kaplan’s report is accurate, the Cubs will not be addressing that need.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-free-agent-rumors-2026-hoyer