Cubs Rumors: It’s “inevitable” Jed Hoyer makes this move before spring training

The excitement of the Kyle Tucker blockbuster has faded as the hot stove cooled during the holidays, but we can expect the market to pick up steam again once the calendar turns to January this week - and the Chicago Cubs still have work to do before the club reports to camp in February.

According to the latest from The Athletic (subscription required), it 'seems inevitable' Chicago will add one more starting pitcher this winter - even after bringing in left-hander Matthew Boyd on a two-year, $29 million deal early in the offseason. That move was predicated on upside and the oft-injured left-hander comes with a great deal of risk.

That fact, paired with the potential for regression from last year's staff assuming Wrigley Field plays closer to its historic norms than the pitcher-friendly haven it was in 2024, means Jed Hoyer needs more starting pitching depth if his team is going to be built to stand the test of a 162-game marathon.

Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele headline the rotation, followed by the likes of Jameson Taillon and Boyd. The fifth spot currently projects to go to either Jordan Wicks or Javier Assad, but they could both shift to swing roles or be stashed at Iowa with the addition of another proven starter.

Cubs will continue to look for starting rotation additions

The Cubs have been connected to several trade targets this winter, including the Seattle Mariners' Luis Castillo and the Miami Marlins' Jesus Luzardo, the latter of whom wound up getting dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies after talks between Chicago and Miami stalled over reported concerns with medicals.

The Mariners still have rotation depth they could trade from, and once they finalize the Corbin Burnes signing, it seems likelier than ever they look to do whatever it takes to move Jordan Montgomery. Trade remains the likeliest avenue Hoyer will look to in order to bolster his rotation, unless a free agent target's market bottoms out and he can snag what he sees as a bargain late in the offseason.

The rotation isn't the only area the Cubs will likely add to over the coming months. The bench could still use more impact pieces and the weekend's trade of Matt Mervis has left the organization woefully shallow at first base behind Michael Busch. But arms remains Hoyer's top priority. The question now, remains: what are we talking about? High-quality additions or simply rounding out the depth as insurance policies behind the projected starters.