Carson Kelly declined his 2027 mutual option and is a free agent, but a Cubs reunion looks plausible. Chicago could prioritize bringing him back, with a lockout looming Dec. 2 and a thin catcher market raising the urgency. 🦆
Cubs' rotation needs a rebuild after Boyd and Holmes opted out, and Japanese righty Kaima Taira (1.36 ERA, 146 innings for Seibu) is being posted. The Cubs' Japan ties make them a possible fit, though a looming Dec. 2 lockout could complicate things. ⚾
MLB Trade Rumors (Cubs): Matthew Boyd, Carson Kelly Become Free Agents
Cubs could answer Milwaukee's World Series win by pursuing free agent Brandon Woodruff when the market opens Nov. 2. With Gausman, Imanaga, Holmes and Boyd heading to free agency, the rotation needs arms, though Woodruff's injury history is a real concern. 🎯
Cubs could bring back Clay Holmes cheaply: The Athletic's Jim Bowden projects a two-year, ~$44M deal. Holmes had a 3.29 ERA over 18 starts before a freak leg injury, and the Cubs' rotation is full of question marks. 🎯
Trent Thornton's 2026 on a $1M deal: a 2.32 ERA through Aug. 26, then an Aug. 28 meltdown vs. the Reds. He finished 3.35 ERA, 0.7 bWAR, but a 15.8% K rate. The writer would pass on a return for 2027. 🔥
Offseason shopping list: the Cubs could look inside the NL Central for help, with Brewers OF/1B Jake Bauers (26 HR, 86 RBI) a cheaper outfield option than Seiya Suzuki, and Pirates lefty Gregory Soto a possible bullpen complement to Daniel Palencia. 🎯
Cubs are expected to be in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, but the Dodgers, Mets and Padres are reportedly the biggest obstacles. The Dodgers are viewed as favorites, and a looming Dec. 2 lockout could complicate things. Wrigley's checkbook may need a workout. 💰
On this date in 2016, Aroldis Chapman recorded the final eight outs in Game 5 of the World Series, sealing a 3-2 Cubs win over Cleveland. Chicago scored three off Trevor Bauer in the fourth and stayed alive. ⚾
Free agency opened with the Cubs prioritizing pitching after Milwaukee won the division and the World Series. Imanaga, Gausman and Peterson are free agents, and all five 2026 rotation starters could leave. Hoyer: "double down" on pitching. 🎯
Pete Crow-Armstrong's 2026 MVP-caliber, 40-40 season landed right after his six-year extension, which averages under $20 million a year. Cubs timing: impeccable. Cincinnati, meanwhile, faces a costly Elly De La Cruz decision. 💰
Cubs lost assistant GM Jared Banner to Baltimore, where he's now GM. The speculation: that new Orioles connection to Jed Hoyer's front-office network could help the Cubs facilitate a trade, though nothing is reported or agreed. 🔍
Pete Crow-Armstrong says the mental game is his "last piece to the puzzle," even after a 2025 with 31 homers, 35 steals, an All-Star nod and a Gold Glove. The swing may come and go, but the headspace is the next upgrade. 🧠
Ian Happ, a four-time Gold Glove winner, hits free agency for the first time after hitting .218/.326/.412 with 24 homers in 2026. Speculation has the champion Brewers as a possible suitor at three years, $55M, with Jed Hoyer saying everything's on the table. 🔎
Hot Stove season opens with the Brewers as World Series champs, and the Cubs' offseason outlook looks short and busy. The column pokes at Jed Hoyer's bargain-bin habits, with Tarik Skubal and Michael King likely out of reach and the bullpen a question mark. 🔥
Cubs kept assistant hitting coach John Mallee from the Mets by reworking his contract, and he withdrew from their hitting coach search. Pete Crow-Armstrong called him his "baseball dad," so the move protects Craig Counsell's staff. 🔒
Michael King declined his $28M player option with the Padres and hit free agency, and the Cubs are viewed as a potential fit. With Imanaga, Gausman, Holmes and Boyd also out, the rotation needs help. His 3.21 ERA over 185 innings helps his case. ⚾
Michael King opted out of his Padres deal, hitting free agency and giving the Cubs another look. With Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd also gone, the rotation needs help. King logged a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings in 2026; Bowden projects four years, $118M. 🎯
Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd declined their player options, so the Cubs' entire end-of-season rotation is now free agent, joining Gausman, Peterson and Imanaga. Pitching is Hoyer's top priority, and the Cubs hold a five-day exclusive window. 🔍
Cubs reportedly reworked John Mallee's contract to keep him after the Mets showed interest, and he withdrew from consideration. Losing him would have meant a second hitting-staff departure to the Mets after Rachel Folden, and Mallee is credited with Pete Crow-Armstrong's rise. 🔒
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