Nearly halfway through the offseason, there is still a lot of work to do for the Chicago Cubs. One of the needs they have is for a top-of-the-rotation starter. They have been linked to some of the top names in free agency.
As far as pitchers go, two of the top names that remain available are a pair of left-handers, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suárez. Either one would be the big move the Cubs need to make in free agency.
Dylan Cease was the biggest free agent name, and he went to the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King made the surprising decision to return to the San Diego Padres. As far as the Cubs go, their biggest need is a front-line starter, according to Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, who listed the Cubs as the best fit for Suárez.
Cubs Urged to Sign Ranger Suárez
As starting pitchers continue to sign, the market begins to dwindle for the Cubs. Kelly urged Chicago to make a splash and sign Suárez, a former Philadelphia Phillies standout.
“There are some durability concerns with Ranger Suárez, who has been on the injured list with a back-related ailment in three of the last four seasons. But he posted a 3.20 ERA across a career-high 157.1 innings last season. He’s been even more dominant in the postseason for the Phillies, thriving as both a starter and a reliever with a minuscule 1.48 ERA across 42.2 career playoff frames,” wrote Kelly.
One look at Chicago’s potential rotation gives you a hint as to why a starting pitcher is something they need to address this offseason. Cade Horton is a promising, rising young arm, and Matthew Boyd is coming off a huge 2025 season, but there are questions about whether or not he could repeat it. Shota Imanaga is returning, but he struggled last season. Hence, the need for a front-line starter.
Cubs Need to Prioritize Pitching This Offseason
Chicago would love to bring back Kyle Tucker. Kelly is surprised that they haven’t brought him back yet to give them a loaded outfield.
“Even with a projected outfield of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki, it remains puzzling that the Cubs haven’t even made an effort this offseason to re-sign Kyle Tucker, the top overall free agent who is only entering his age-29 season. A healthy Tucker is a real difference-maker, and the Cubs have the financial wherewithal to sign him, and if they did, either Happ or Suzuki could become a trade candidate,” Kelly wrote.
The Cubs not making Tucker a priority tells you that they seem content to let him leave. If that is indeed the case, then targeting pitching should be their priority. Suárez went 12-8 for the Phillies in 2025 with 152 strikeouts and 4.7 WAR. Kelly believes adding him makes Chicago a potential playoff team next season.
“As puzzling as their handling of Tucker has been, if the Cubs add Suárez on a lucrative four-year deal, they could well enter 2026 as a projected playoff team,” wrote Kelly.
Chicago was a playoff team in 2025, but they were eliminated in the National League Division Series by the Milwaukee Brewers. They need a front-line starter to get them over the top, and Suárez would be that pitcher. Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball predicts Suarez to sign a five-year deal worth $110 million.
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