Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer called for a major overhaul of the team’s pitching infrastructure after the club’s Wild Card Series loss to the Padres, citing injuries, bullpen struggles, and a lack of elite starting rotation depth.
Hoyer’s comments, made during exit meetings and postgame press conferences, revealed a stark assessment of the 2026 season, which saw the Cubs fall short of playoff expectations despite a high-scoring offense and dominant defense. The team allowed the most home runs in the National League (231) and relied heavily on its fielding, which set single-season Statcast records, to compensate for a pitching staff that ranked 23rd in strikeout rate.
Pitching Woes and Personnel Challenges
The Cubs’ pitching struggles were compounded by a roster of free agents set to hit the market, including Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson. Hoyer acknowledged the challenge of rebuilding, noting that we’re not going to be able to bring back all of them. That’s clear.
The team also faces uncertainty with injured pitchers like Justin Steele, Ben Brown, and Cade Horton, who are expected to return in 2027 but may not be fully ready.
The overall quality of the pitching has to improve,
Hoyer said, pointing to the organization-wide autopsy
needed to address the staff’s shortcomings. He admitted responsibility for the bullpen’s failures, calling it a “full stop” in his management. The club’s relief corps set a club record with 14 players recording at least one save, a sign of instability that Hoyer vowed to fix.
A Focus on Pitching Acquisition
Hoyer confirmed that the Cubs’ offseason will prioritize pitching, with the great majority of our focus
on acquisitions. He hinted at a potential shift in strategy, stating, We’re leaning on our defense too heavily, and the overall quality of the pitching has to improve.
The team is expected to pursue top potential trade targets like Reid Detmers and Drew Rasmussen, though the financial demands could be steep. A potential signing of a top-tier pitcher might require more than doubling the deal for Jason Heyward, the largest in franchise history.
Free Agency and Roster Uncertainty
Hoyer emphasized the need to build accordingly,
balancing retention efforts with potential trades. We do have a lot of good players that are going to be free agents and we’ll be in touch,
he said, though he acknowledged the team’s financial constraints.
The season’s end has left the Cubs in a precarious position. Hoyer’s admission that we let an opportunity slip away that we won’t get back
underscores the urgency of the coming offseason. As the team prepares for 2027, the focus on pitching—both in development and acquisition—will define its path forward.
“We believed in this group,” Hoyer said. “We had the best player in baseball. We had an exceptional position-playing group. So, we believed in this group. And we fell short. We let that opportunity slip away. That’s the part that will gnaw at us for a long time.”