Matthew Boyd’s Team USA move just exposed the Cubs’ top offseason need

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd has announced that he will be pitching for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic next March. While the Cubs would rarely stand in the way of someone participating in the tournament, Boyd's inclusion should serve as a reminder why Jed Hoyer and Co. must add a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher this winter.

First and foremost, congrats to Boyd. His inclusion on Team USA's roster is another sign of the turnaround he has had in his career since joining the Cubs. Adding to that, he will be joined by Cubs teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong. Boyd was an All-Star during his first season in Chicago, and with injuries to Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, he spent a large portion of the season as the de facto ace of the rotation.

However, Boyd pitching innings of consequence in March may not spell great things for the Cubs in 2026. The downside to Boyd's 2025 season is that he regressed during the final two months of the season. Likely tied to pitching the most innings in a season since 2019, Boyd posted an ERA of 4.54 in August, followed by a 5.31 during the final month of the regular season.

Matthew Boyd's Team USA inclusion should add to the Chicago Cubs' incentive to add a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher this offseason.

Add in that Boyd's strikeout numbers while he was also getting squared up more often, preserving the 34-year-old for the duration of the 2026 season should be the priority for the Cubs. While Colin Rea's return will help their cause, the Cubs would really be doing themselves a solid if they follow through with their goal of adding an ace-caliber starting pitcher this winter.

It's why the Cubs need to have urgency this offseason to add a starting pitcher. The recent messaging of the front office being comfortable with Cade Horton's ascension as a reason to not act with urgency this offseason doesn't match the result fans saw on the field to close out the season. While not as drastic as Shota Imanaga's regression in the playoffs, Boyd's step back did give a different look to the rotation to close out the season.

What can make this a moot point for the Cubs is if they go out at the Winter Meetings and trade for Joe Ryan. At the very least, Ryan being at the top of Chicago's rotation would lessen the worry of Boyd pitching meaningful innings before the start of the regular season.