Cubs' GM Meetings clues point to Kaima Taira as their top free agent target

The initial wave of reporting from the GM Meetings pointed to the starting pitchers the Chicago Cubs may not sign this offseason. The Cubs are expected to sit out of the bidding for Tarik Skubal, and it would seem that there's a cap to their interest level in Michael King. Freddy Peralta has also been a popular target suggested for the Cubs, but they may not like the warning signs that were in his profile during the 2026 season.

There's still a number of pitchers available on the free-agent market, but this is a Cubs team expected to add multiple starting pitchers. With that should come the expectation that the Cubs will want to add at least one starting pitcher who as the upside of being placed at the top of that rotation, and then two starting pitchers who could round out the rotation.

It's a difficult web for the Cubs to weave, considering Jed Hoyer's spending history suggests that the front office doesn't step outside of their comfort zone when spending on pitching. This offseason, for the pitching side of the roster, isn't going to be like what happened last winter when Hoyer ignored the models to sign Alex Bregman to a five-year deal worth $175 million.

That type of gamble shouldn't be expected for the pitching staff this offseason. More or less, that's why the Cubs have already ruled themselves out of the bidding for Skubal, and will stick to their models for finding value when it comes to their interest in King.

Cubs' free agency plans appear to be taking shape around Kaima Taira

While there are still a number of pitchers the Cubs could pursue that would be the definition of finding value, outside of Skubal, King, and Peralta, it's difficult to find a pitcher with the upside of being an ace. That is why, of all the options the Cubs are likely to be considering, Japanese starting pitcher Kaima Taira could be at the top of their priority list.

The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma reports the Cubs have already done extensive homework on Taira, and they have interest in him as a starting pitcher. Taira is a fascinating profile, considering he's 5'9", but offers an extension with his delivery that is closer to 6'10". That fits what the Cubs typically look for in a pitcher, and in Japan, his ground-ball rate has been above 45% since he made his professional debut in 2019. Taira also has a fastball in the upper-90s, and there's a belief that teams can unlock more swing-and-miss in his approach moving forward.

The risk is that Taira only has two seasons in Japan where he's been used exclusively as a starting pitcher, and move to the bullpen could eventually be in his future in the majors. It's something the Cubs have to account for, but given the risk, it's why his bidding should be within their comfort level.

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