The Chicago Cubs must prioritize starting pitching this offseason after their rotation is projected to lose four key pieces to free agency, according to an analysis published by Cubs Roundtable.
An analysis from Cubs Roundtable urges the Chicago Cubs to pursue San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King in free agency. With King holding a player option for 2027 that he could decline, Spotrac projects his market value at roughly $149.5 million over five years. The report presents the 31-year-old as an attainable front-line starter for Chicago compared to premier options like Tarik Skubal, who could cost over $300 million.
The Cubs are expected to lose several starting pitchers to free agency, including Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Matthew Boyd, and Clay Holmes. King posted a 12-10 record with a 3.21 ERA across 185 innings in 2026, which included a dominant seven shutout innings against Chicago in the National League Wild Card Series.
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