Projecting a revamped Cubs starting rotation as Lucas Giolito rumors swirl

As soon as we learned the Chicago Cubs would be without Cade Horton for the rest of the season, speculation around free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito immediately gained steam. Now, multiple reporters have connected the two sides as Chicago looks to get back on track after a rocky start to the season.

The Cubs aren't alone in their interest. Reportedly, the San Diego Padres are also interested in the former All-Star, who is rumored to be seeking a minimum of a two-year deal after posting a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts with the Boston Red Sox last season.

If Jed Hoyer brings the 31-year-old into the fold, here's a sneak peek of what the Cubs' rotation could look like this summer once Justin Steele returns to the mound (spoiler alert: there are six names on this list, but it seems safe to assume we'll see more arms hit the shelf before season's end).

A reloaded Cubs rotation with Lucas Giolito offers at least some hope

1 - Matthew Boyd

Currently on the injured list, left-hander Matthew Boyd is coming off a breakout first season in Chicago. He bounced back from a rocky Opening Day start, firing 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball, punching out 10, only to be sidelined with a left bicep strain.

The good news is he's on track for a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa soon and should rejoin the Cubs' rotation by the end of the month, assuming he has no setbacks. He led the staff in innings pitched last year and emerged as a reliable piece of the puzzle. Can he replicate that showing in 2026? The Cubs better hope so.

2 - Edward Cabrera

The early returns on Edward Cabrera have been very promising. The big right-hander carries a 1.62 ERA through his first three starts, despite walking nearly five batters per nine. The stuff is there - that's not a question. But dialing in on location and limiting self-inflicted damage will be key as the season progresses.

He has the swing-and-miss arsenal this team has long lacked, but hasn't racked up the strikeouts in the early-going (although his whiff and chase rates both grade out as above-average). Cabrera is unarguably the x-factor in this rotation with Horton done for the year, with the ceiling of a true ace that he's yet to find.

3 - Justin Steele

At his best, Justin Steele is a top-of-the-rotation presence. But we have no idea what to expect from the left-hander when he returns after not pitching in a big-league game since April 7, 2025.

We do know he's not going to be allowed to immediately return and push up to the century mark pitch-wise or work deep into games on hot afternoons at Wrigley. The Cubs are going to play it safe with Steele with the hope he can hit his stride late in the year, heading into October - assuming it's still in play for the team.

4 - Lucas Giolito

From here on out, the pecking order is a matter of debate. You can make the case that Giolito, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon are all interchangeable, although I'd argue Imanaga's ceiling is higher than the two right-handers.

Regardless of how they're stacked up, some combination of that trio seems poised to round out Craig Counsell's rotation. If they sign him, Chicago has to be convinced he's closer to the guy he was last year than the one he was in 2023, when he posted a 4.88 ERA across 184 innings of work.

5 - Shota Imanaga

So far, so good for Imanaga, who has been one of the Cubs' best starters in the first half of April. The left-hander is averaging more than 11 strikeouts per nine and has a sub-3.00 ERA to go along with an impressive 2.25 FIP.

Improved velocity on his fastball has made his offspeed offerings more effective and has had him looking more like the Cy Young candidate he was in his rookie season than the guy who was so unusable by the end of last year that the Cubs skipped his start in a must-win playoff game.

6 - Jameson Taillon

Jameson Taillon entered Tuesday leading all big-league pitchers in... home runs allowed. Not exactly the statistic you want to set the high-water mark for. He's been all over the place results-wise in his first three starts, although his outing against Pittsburgh last weekend was majorly impacted by hitter-friendly winds at Wrigley.

In the final season of the four-year, $68 million deal he signed prior to the 2023 season, the Cubs are counting on Taillon to be a reliable, steady presence. He'll need to limit the number of fly balls that leave the yard to accomplish that.

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