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The Chicago Cubs are casting a wide net when it comes to their search for a starting pitcher. Sure, Sandy Alcantara is the name that gets bandied about the most, considering he has the pedigree of being a former National League Cy Young Award winner. However, it's the targets who have since surfaced that may quietly be revealing the plan for Jed Hoyer after the 2025 season.
We need to provide a passing mention of the theme of Ken Rosenthal's look into the Cubs' plans for the deadline. The theme being that with Hoyer in the final year of his contract, Kyle Tucker a free agent after the season, and a handful of core players becoming free agents after the 2026 season should be the reason why the Cubs' President of Baseball Operations should be operating with urgency ahead of the deadline.
While it's clear that Hoyer has urgency in filling the needs that the Cubs have, a case can be made that his contract status isn't being factored. If anything, the targets that have emerged would suggest that Hoyer will be the man overseeing baseball operations for the Cubs in the seasons ahead.
Jed Hoyer’s trade activity may confirm front office stability
The most recent rumor has the Cubs anxious to trade for Mitch Keller and David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Keller is in the middle of a five-year contract worth $77MM that will take him through the 2028 season. Bednar is also under team control beyond this season, but it's his final year of arbitration.
Similar to their interest in Keller, Bob Nightengale linked the Cubs to Luis Severino of the Athletics. Severino is in the first year of a three-year deal worth $71MM.
With Alcantara, Keller, and Severino, it would seem that the Cubs are willing to take on money in future seasons to address the need they have this season. I would venture to guess that is the preferred method for the Cubs, as it would likely lower the prospect cost--at least for Severino and Keller. It's a strategy that should point to Hoyer expecting to remain in his position beyond this season. Hoyer operating with that assurance, even if there hasn't been an official announcement, would be the ideal situation for the Cubs ahead of the deadline.