3 free agent pitchers the Cubs must prioritize immediately to save their offseason

Unlike some, I'm not ready to call for Jed Hoyer's head on a spike after Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros on a three-year, $64 million deal that fell well short of projections. As has so often been the case, the Chicago Cubs were in the hunt right up to the end, but missed their man.

It's a narrative we've become all too familiar with during Hoyer's run as Cubs president of baseball operations - but there's still time (and players unsigned) for him to come away a winner of the offseason. That being said, time is running out and Chicago is on the clock in their quest to add a frontline starting pitcher.

3 free agents Jed Hoyer and the Cubs need to pursue aggressively

Framber Valdez

Longtime Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez is probably the top remaining free agent starting pitcher. The southpaw is a two-time All-Star who's not only been consistent, but is capable of pushing the 200-inning mark, something we haven't seen a Cubs pitcher do in some time.

High-quality results + a high innings total = a big payday. At least, that's the hope for Valdez, who is heading into his age-32 season. The cost of starting pitching continues to rise with each passing year, and there's little reason to think he'll be an exception to that rule. Coming off 192 innings of 3.37 FIP ball in 2025, Valdez seems likely to command north of $150 million in his next contract.

That fact alone makes me skeptical Hoyer will land the left-hander, but the Cubs at least have to have the conversation.

Zac Gallen

Remember in early December when, for a brief minute, it looked like Zac Gallen was a Chicago Cub? I still think that's the likeliest outcome if free agency is how Hoyer addresses the rotation need. Coming off a rocky platform year in Arizona, the right-hander has a lengthy track record and a resume that suggests he's a prime bounceback candidate.

With a pair of top-5 finishes in NL Cy Young voting from 2022-2024, Gallen averaged 180 innings and a 3.20 ERA over those three years before struggling last season, posting a 4.83 ERA in just under 200 frames. He's likely to fetch less than someone like Valdez (although the Imai signing showed us all projections aren't always accurate) - and we all know the Cubs love a buy-low candidate.

Ranger Suarez

Suarez joins Valdez near the top of the market, coming off a somewhat quietly underappreciated run with the Philadelphia Phillies. Since the start of 2021, the 30-year-old has thrown just under 800 innings of 3.25 ball and he does several things the Cubs love in pitchers: he limits hard contact and knows how to use his full arsenal.

Despite a fastball velocity in the low-90s, Suarez ranked in the 98th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 95th percentile in average exit velocity. While I'd love to see some more velo in the Cubs' rotation mix, not relying heavily on pure gas to get hitters out gives you hope that he may age well into what's expected to be a deal somewhere in the five-plus year range.