Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs have had a very successful MLB offseason thus far. After a slow start to the offseason that saw fans begin to get frustrated, the team made aggressive moves to win now.
First and foremost, the Cubs pulled off a major trade with the Miami Marlins to acquire starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Bringing in another starter was a need for Chicago. Cabrera has true No. 1 potential if he stays healthy and plays to his full potential.
Following that move, the Cubs wasted no time. They signed veteran star free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. After missing out on him last offseason, being able to sign Bregman this time around was a huge win for Chicago.
Bregman will help the Cubs replace the loss of superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker. His presence in the clubhouse will also be welcome.
With that being said, there are still a couple of moves Chicago could consider making. Adding another outfielder could be one of them.
Chicago Cubs Urged to Sign 17-Year MLB Outfielder Late in Free Agency
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle thinks that the Cubs should still consider bringing in Andrew McCutchen this offseason.
“McCutchen, now that it appears he isn’t headed back to Pittsburgh, seems like an ideal fit for such a role, on and off the field — if he’s willing to finish his career outside of Pittsburgh,” Doolittle wrote.
“World Series contenders have often had aging former stars filling out their benches, and McCutchen is just sitting there waiting to be that savvy vet for somebody.”
McCutchen has spent the majority of his career playing against Chicago in the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Late in his career, he has remained a quality role player. He could still be a great presence for a team like the Cubs.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Pirates, the 39-year-old outfielder played in 135 games. He hit 13 home runs to go along with 57 RBI, while also batting .239/.333/.367.
While he may no longer be a star, McCutchen would certainly be a quality depth addition for Chicago.
Taking a Look at the Cubs’ Projected 2026 Lineup & Rotation
On paper, the Cubs are expected to be a legitimate World Series contender. They have the talent both at the plate and on the mound.
FanGraphs has projected what the expected lineup and rotation will be for Chicago in 2026.
In the rotation, the Cubs are expected to have Matthew Boyd, Cabrera, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon. Justin Steele is also expected to return to the team from injury at some point during the season.
As for their lineup, it should be some combination of Michael Busch, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Moises Ballesteros, and Carson Kelly, with Matt Shaw being an elite utility man.
Fans have a lot to look forward to in 2026. Chicago has gone all-in on competing now and it will be interesting to see if the Cubs can truly become a World Series contender.
Cubs Linked to Sleeper Move to Sign 17-Year MLB Outfielder