Cubs have 4 bargain free agents to target after Tarik Skubal’s contract demands scared them off

No Tarik Skubal and long shots for the likes of Freddy Peralta and Michael King? The offseason is off to a rocky start on the rumor mill for the Chicago Cubs and Jed Hoyer, tasked with re-tooling a starting rotation that probably needs three quality additions this winter.

There's always the chance that a top-tier rotation upgrade comes via trade, but the Cubs can't afford to sit on the sidelines of free agency. They need to add too many arms for that to be the case. But if they're thinking the big fish come from a trade and depth is more of the play in free agency, here are four very unexciting possible fits.

4 budget-friendly free-agent pitchers Cubs, Jed Hoyer could hone in on

Walker Buehler

Several times in the last few years, the Cubs have been linked as a potential Walker Buehler landing spot. Nothing has come of those mentions, but perhaps this winter is when everything comes together.

Buehler, a former World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, got off to a rocky start with the San Diego Padres in 2026, but settled in as the season went on, posting a 3.62 ERA over his final 13 appearances. The overall body of work left much to be desired (4.63 ERA, 131 Ks, 153 2/3 IP) but that's what you're going to get when you're shopping in this tier of the market.

Erick Fedde

You'll see a recurring theme on this list. All of these pitchers have been speculative fits for the Cubs over the last few seasons and Erick Fedde is no exception. After the St. Louis Cardinals designated him for assignment in 2025 mid-season, some wondered if the Cubs would swoop in to add the right-hander. That didn't happen and he wound up joining the Chicago White Sox last winter on a one-year deal.

In a swingman role, Fedde pitched well for the South Siders, posting a 3.83 ERA across 141 innings of work, making 15 starts and 18 relief appearances. Since returning from Korea in 2024, the veteran has pitched for the Braves, White Sox, Cardinals and Brewers, pitching to a 4.13 ERA. He probably won't replicate his breakout 5.6 bWAR 2024 performance again, but could be decent backend depth.

Lucas Giolito

After he missed the second half of the season with an elbow injury, the San Diego Padres declined their end of a 2027 mutual option on Lucas Giolito, sending the former first-rounder back to the open market in search of a new home.

He could still find an interested suitor, though. After all, he's just one year removed from a strong showing in Boston (3.41 ERA. 145 IP) and is just 32 years old. The right-hander definitely isn't the Cy Young-caliber arm he was back in the day with the White Sox, but if he's healthy, could still slot in as a solid #3. The big question, though, is whether the Cubs get more than mid-rotation arms this winter.

Chris Paddack

Chris Paddack had a downright disastrous 2026, bouncing from the Marlins to the Reds and Rangers before heading to Korea to close out the year. There, he seemed to rediscover his form, which should give him a decent platform to seek new MLB opportunities this winter.

He signed with the KBO's Samsung Lions in July and flipped the switch almost immediately, pitching to a 2.95 ERA in the regular season before helping the Lions win the Korean Series. We know the Cubs love a reclamation project and this could be one that A) comes with a low asking price and B) offers untapped upside.

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