Looking to keep guys healthy, the Cubs could deploy a six-man rotation in 2026

Depth can be the difference-maker when it comes to big-league pitching staffs, which is great news for the Chicago Cubs, who are poised to head into spring training rolling 8+ arms deep in potential starting pitching options.

Newcomer Edward Cabrera joins the likes of Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Ben Brown, Colin Rea and - at some point prior to the All-Star Break - Justin Steele in the rotation mix, with pieces like Jordan Wicks and Jaxon Wiggins waiting in the wings at Triple-A Iowa. Coming off a season that ended when it did, due in large part to the rotation running out of steam, reading through that list feels particularly good.

Cubs' rotation depth could make all the difference come October

While that depth is admittedly impressive, many of these pitchers come with injury concerns. Cabrera has missed significant time in his career with shoulder issues and, last season with the Marlins, also hit the shelf with a right elbow strain. That trade falls squarely into the 'high-risk, high-reward' bucket for that reason alone.

Horton saw his tremendous second-half run cut short due to injury - and it kept him from throwing a single pitch in the Cubs' playoff run. Boyd thrived in his first season in Chicago, but after throwing more innings than at any point in the prior six years, he seemed to be running on fumes come October. Similarly, Imanaga looked broken down the stretch - and getting him right will be a major focal point for Tommy Hottovy in 2026.

Steele made only four starts before missing the rest of the season with an elbow injury. If he can return to form and plug back in at the top of this rotation, this quickly looks like a staff ready to go toe-to-toe with the best of the National League come the postseason.

Taillon, Brown and Rea don't come with as big of injury concerns, but in the case of Brown, consistency and effectiveness are major concerns. Rea was brilliant last year in a swing man role, making 27 starts and throwing more innings than anyone other than Boyd - and Wicks is hoping to force his way into the picture nearly five years after the Cubs took him in the first round.

The pieces are in place for manager Craig Counsell to play the long game with his rotation this year. There's no need to rush Steele back from injury or ask Boyd to shoulder a huge workload in the first half. There's a lot riding on Cabrera staying healthy and Horton building on his impressive rookie season, so rolling with a six-man rotation to start the year may be the best path forward for a team with championship aspirations.