Chicago Cubs urged to explore addition of recently DFA’d former All-Star pitcher

The Chicago Cubs suffered major setbacks in their starting rotation less than two weeks into a 2026 season where big things were expected.

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24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton, hot off a shocking 2025 that saw him finish as a runner-up to Rookie of the Year, went down in his second start of the year. After initially being shelved due to “right forearm discomfort,” further tests revealed an elbow injury that would require season-ending surgery.

Right after that gut punch, Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd was placed on the IL with a left biceps strain and a timetable for a full return that’s still up in the air.

Rotation replacement Colin Rea and Javier Assad were called into the backup starter roles way earlier than expected. Assad has been hot and cold in his two starts so far this year, delivering 5.2 scoreless, one-hit innings in his first appearance against the Rays and then, most recently, getting shellacked in a 9-run, 4.2 inning outing against the Phillies. Rea, meanwhile, was very good in his only start so far, allowing one run in 5 innings against the Rays.

With Assad and Rea in the rotation, the Cubs are using up their two best backup starter options, right off the bat. And with the recovering Justin Steele still maybe about two months away from returning, at best, and Ben Brown working through his own issues, Chicago suddenly finds itself desperate for starter-capable arms.

Atlanta Braves make Martin Perez available

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That’s why the Atlanta Braves’ recent decision to designate veteran Martin Perez for assignment caught the eye of so many analysts and Cubs fans.

The decision to DFA the 35-year-old lefty was considered an odd one by many observers, who noted the Braves’ own starting rotation issues and Perez’s solid performance so far this year—3.14 ERA in three appearances (two starts). But, apparently, schedule-related planning and incoming pitching help made Perez an unnecessary roster-filler at this point.

Perez as back-of-rotation insurance?

Whatever the case, the Cubs have already been mentioned as a team that could have interest in the 15-year veteran. And why wouldn’t they? Although Perez has had injury and consistency issues—explaining his bouncing around five teams in five years—he’s still a viable back-of-rotation option who has, even at his very worst, not been all that horrible. Sometimes, he’s been quite good, like in 2022 when he made the All-Star team and posted a 2.89 ERA over 32 starts and 196.1 innings. On the Cubs, he could settle in as a long-relief option/rotation insurance, playing the role that Rea and Assad were slated to play at the start of this season.

The still-available Lucas Giolito is an overall better pitcher than Perez, but his contractual demands are reportedly high and he would also require at least a month of spring training-like live action before he’s rotation-ready. Perez, however, could be dropped right into the 26-man roster and start pitching immediately.

It’s definitely something for the Cubs to look into. They’ll have competition, though, as several other teams with similar starting pitching needs may try to claim him off waivers as well.

The post Chicago Cubs urged to explore addition of recently DFA’d former All-Star pitcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-martin-perez-braves-sign-dfa-waivers/