Latest Chicago Cubs injury already questions one offseason move

The Chicago Cubs took a gamble this offseason when it came to their motivation to bolster their starting rotation.

Entering the offseason, the stated priority for the Cubs was to add an established starting pitcher who can be slotted near the top of their rotation. The reason behind that move would have been to, of course, add an ace-caliber starting pitcher to the rotation but push each of their current starting pitchers down a slot.

That is why the Cubs' addition of Matthew Boyd to the rotation left an undesirable feeling. There certainly is reason to be optimistic about Boyd's pitching profile and what the Cubs pitching infrastructure may unlock, but there is no getting around the fact that the 34-year-old hasn't pitched over 100 innings in a season since 2019.

Why that becomes problematic for the Cubs is their rotation is in jeopardy of facing some regression after a successful 2024 season. In particular, Javier Assad's starts near the end of the 2024 season may have flashed red flags for what the future may hold.

Of course, there is the injury factor as well. While injuries can't be predicted, the Cubs certainly took a larger gamble on adding Boyd than they would have adding someone like Max Fried or Jack Flaherty. If there is an injury to one of the Cubs' starting pitchers ahead of Boyd, his durability becomes much more important.

And with that, Craig Counsell did reveal on Monday that Assad is dealing with an oblique injury.

Javier Assad's injury may already alter Cubs' starting rotation

The Cubs are no stranger to oblique injuries derailing the start of a season for a key member of their team. Seiya Suzuki has fallen into that category a couple of times in recent seasons.

Fortunately, the Cubs do have the pitching depth to withstand an injury to the rotation at this stage of Spring Training. Ben Brown is healthy and could make his return to the rotation, but in the event, Assad's start to the season is delayed, it seems more likely that Colin Rea would take his spot in the rotation.