The Chicago Cubs have an opportunity to address one of their biggest weaknesses this offseason. Whether Jed Hoyer is willing to spend enough money to do it is another question.
After watching Chicago's pitching staff struggle throughout 2026, ESPN's Jesse Rogers offered an offseason prediction that probably won't sit well with Cubs fans. The front office could spend money rebuilding its starting rotation while continuing its familiar bargain-shopping approach to the bullpen.
If that sounds familiar, it should.
ESPN expects Cubs to stick with familiar offseason approach
In his recent ESPN analysis of teams eliminated from the postseason, Rogers predicted that Chicago would invest in starting pitching but avoid making a significant financial commitment to its bullpen.
Rogers pointed to Hoyer's reluctance to spend heavily on established closers, suggesting the Cubs could once again target inexpensive relievers and lesser-known options.
It's not necessarily a bad strategy when those acquisitions work. Unfortunately, Chicago got a pretty good reminder this season of what happens when they don't.
The Cubs signed Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey last offseason, hoping both could provide dependable innings. Neither delivered the results the organization needed.
By the end of the year, Chicago had used 14 different pitchers to record saves, a franchise record. That's not exactly the kind of stability a playoff contender wants heading into September.
And the problems extended well beyond the ninth inning.
Chicago surrendered 231 home runs during the regular season, the most in the National League. The Padres added four more during their two-game playoff sweep.
It's difficult to win consistently when opposing hitters are sending that many baseballs into the seats.
Jed Hoyer can't afford another bullpen gamble
To Hoyer's credit, he hasn't tried pretending everything went according to plan.
During his season-ending press conference, the Cubs president of baseball operations acknowledged that he failed to assemble an effective bullpen. He also made improving the pitching staff his primary offseason objective.
But acknowledging the problem is considerably easier than fixing it.
Chicago could lose several starting pitchers to free agency, including Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson. Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes also have contract decisions approaching.
That makes Rogers' prediction about spending on the rotation understandable. The Cubs might have little choice.
The concern is what happens afterward.
Hoyer doesn't necessarily need to hand a closer a massive contract. There are plenty of examples around baseball of expensive relievers failing to justify their salaries.
Still, there's a difference between being financially responsible and repeatedly hoping inexpensive acquisitions outperform expectations.
The Cubs won 89 games in 2026, scored more runs than any other team in baseball, and still couldn't get beyond the Wild Card Series.
They have a lineup capable of competing. Their pitching staff needs considerable work.
If Rogers' prediction proves accurate, Cubs fans could spend another summer wondering whether Hoyer did enough to address the bullpen.
After this season, that's a question Chicago shouldn't have to ask again.
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