How much money every Cubs starter will make in 2024

6. Javier Assad: 2024 salary of $770,000

It's unfortunate that Javier Assad is still on a rookie deal because he is one of the most valuable arms on the roster. At 26 years old, Assad emerged as a versatile weapon in 2023 whether it was as a starter (3.02 ERA in 53.2 IP) or as a reliever (3.07 ERA in 55.2 IP). This kind of translation is exactly what you want to see from your swingman, which is the role Assad will likely continue to be utilized in by manager Craig Counsell this year.

Assad will probably begin the year in the Cubs bullpen as a long reliever and be ready to slot into the rotation in case of injury or bad performance. This is exactly the kind of flexibility managers and front offices envision for the ideal team and the Cubs are lucky to have a guy like Assad. He is still two years away from hitting arbitration so he will be around for a while if he continues to excel.