Unless there's something else coming out of left field in the coming weeks fans can already tell what the plan has been for the Chicago Cubs this offseason in terms of upgrading the starting rotation. Shōta Imanaga is back after he accepted the qualifying offer, but at this point the organization is most likely viewing him as a back-end starter, while the front office attempts to sign a top-tier free agent.
We're in the middle of the first part of the plan as it appears as though the Cubs had two big free agent starting pitchers on their radar. The Cubs made a run at Dylan Cease, but he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as Jed Hoyer wasn't interested in continuing a bidding war into the $200 million range. Now, the Cubs' have shifted their focus to Japanese star Tatsuya Imai.
I would still classify Imai as part of plan A for the Cubs, but what if they fail to sign him too? At this point there are still several big-market clubs with interest in signing the 27-year-old free agent coming over from Japan and we've seen how Hoyer doesn't necessarily like staying in a bidding war. Imai remains the preferred free agent for many Cubs fans, but as the Winter Meetings get underway in Orlando, Fla., this week the obvious backup plan kind of seems like a perfect fit for the Cubs.
No, it's not Zac Gallen. He has to be not a last resort, but definitely further down the list if the Cubs are going to add more certainty to the starting rotation. I wouldn't hate signing Gallen, but he's not near the top of my list. Instead, maybe we should be focusing in more on former San Diego Padres pitcher and ex-teammate of Cease, Michael King.
Going back to initial free agent rumors in November, King was the trendy pick from national and local reporters when speculating who the Cubs would end up signing.
We now know that the Cubs will be in the $100 million range for a starting pitcher after pursuing Cease and preparing a run at Imai. King, depending on the years, could reach that figure, but regardless of how much the right-hander will ultimately sign for, his main weapon on the mound is exactly what the Cubs love and want in their pitchers.
Marquee Sports Network analyst Lance Brozdowski recently broke down why King may end up being the perfect match in free agency with the Cubs because of the right-handed pitcher's excellent cut fastball.
There's obviously concern over future injury with King as the righty was limited to 15 starts in 2025, missing a big chunk of the year with a shoulder issue. The 30-year-old also missed time in 2022, because of an elbow injury. However, you can pretty much talk about injury risk for any pitcher, so that probably won't be a major negative for King as he goes through his free agent process.
King was inserted into a starting role in 2023, and since then he's made 54 starts with the New York Yankees and then Padres. He's been great, posting a 2.92 ERA in 284 innings, while recording an excellent 27.4 K% rate.
The Athletic's Patrick Mooney reported that the interest in King from the Cubs is real this past weekend. King is part of a handful of starting pitchers that the Cubs have strongly been connected to this offseason and despite him appearing to be their third option in the free agent market behind Cease and Imai, King could end up being the ideal pitcher this team needs to take the next leap in 2026.
