The Chicago Cubs have 10 pending free agents and obviously the top storyline of the offseason begins with All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Yet, there are other intriguing players who the Cubs will seriously consider re-signing, while others will get a thanks, but no thanks from the front office. Let's rank the free agents we want back on the 2026 Cubs.
1. Kyle Tucker
Despite the uneven season for Kyle Tucker and disappointing end in the postseason, there's no question that he made the Cubs better in 2025. He did have a pair of injuries that derailed his second half, but there's no denying that when Tucker was healthy he was a major difference maker in the lineup. I get the apprehension toward a longterm contract for Tucker, I mean I'm not 100% in, but we're still talking about a top-10 hitter in the league.
Of course, the big players will be circling in the offseason, so it's not like I'm expecting the Cubs to be the favorites to sign Tucker. However, because of his disappointing second-half, he may have played back into the Cubs' price range. Yet, by now we pretty much know the Cubs won't be over extending themselves in a bidding war, especially if other suitors get close to the $400 million range.
I like Kyle Tucker a lot. I want the Cubs to bring him back, but I'd be lying if I didn't have some doubts about his future performance. That's free agency, though, high risk, high reward.
2. Brad Keller
What an incredible season for Brad Keller. I mean, he was cut by the 2024 White Sox, posted worse numbers with the Boston Red Sox and then had to settle for a minor league deal heading into spring training with the Cubs. Flash forward to October and Keller was closing out playoff wins for Craig Counsell.
Keller certainly rejuvenated his career out of the bullpen this year and will have a decent market in free agency. He'll be in his age-31 season in 2026, coming off a 2.07 ERA campaign. The righty saw his fastball velocity jump up to an average of 97.2mph, three mph faster than his career average. Keller's numbers across the board were phenomenal with a 27.2 K%, 56.1 GB% and 2.93 FIP, while holding opponents to a .181 batting average. He limited the long ball, four home runs over 69.2 innings, and was pretty much the most consistent reliever from the Cubs all year long.
You get weary of one-year outliers, but Keller made significant changes to his arsenal that should continue to produce good results. We'll see how his market plays out, but there's a good relationship here between Keller and the organization, so the Cubs should be in the mix to retain the right-hander.
3. Michael Soroka
This one might be controversial because the last time we saw Michael Soroka pitch he was getting hit around by the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2's NLDS blowout loss. Plus, there weren't many fans happy to see Soroka as the main pitching acquisition at the trade deadline either, so there's certainly some hard feelings about the pitcher. However, after coming back from his shoulder injury in September, Soroka did pitch well out of the bullpen.
That's the key though. I'm interested in Soroka as a reliever with the Cubs not as a member of the starting rotation. He put up great numbers as a reliever with the White Sox in 2024, but that went mainly unnoticed, who could blame you for not paying attention. The Washington Nationals gave him a one-year deal and another shot to be a starting pitcher in 2025, and Soroka's surface numbers were bad, 4.87 ERA, but he was still striking out a lot of batters and wasn't getting much help from a poor Nationals' defense.
In six appearances with the Cubs, Soroka had a 1.08 ERA with eight strikeouts in 8.1 innings. Small sample size, but he also recorded a 39.0 K% and 2.75 ERA in 36 innings out of the bullpen in 2024. Maybe the shoulder injury drives down his price and the Cubs convince him to convert into a full-time reliever in 2026? Or bring him back in a swing-man role, stretched out enough to make a spot start, but his main role will be as a reliever.
Maybe Caleb Thielbar or Drew Pomeranz?
I think you consider bringing back one of the two veteran lefties. Bullpen guys are so volatile year-to-year and while both Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz were amazing considering the expectations on them, I'm not so sure if they'll keep it up in 2026. Thielbar will be 39-years-old next season, while Pomeranz will be 37.
Discount deal?
I doubt it, but maybe Aaron Civale has interest in returning to the Cubs in 2026 in a similar position as Colin Rea? That would have to include a bit of a discount because I don't see the Cubs wanting to spend $8 million+ on another back-end starting pitcher. Civale's 2025 season saw the righty regress after having a handful of years producing mostly positive results. Don't really see Civale as a priority, though.
The same goes with utility man Willi Castro. Boy was he awful after the Cubs traded for him, but over the course of a full season a guy like Castro can certainly help out a club. His results down the stretch probably will drive down the price in Castro's market, but he still has value with great defensive flexibility and switch-hitting capability. The bench has been an area the Cubs have struggled to fill for a while and Castro may be a candidate to be a decent role player.
Thanks, but no thanks
Ryan Brasier had a nice stretch in 2025, before he went down with an injury. The veteran righty ended the year with a 4.50 ERA in 26 innings. He's had a handful of injuries during the past few years, so Brasier isn't exactly a reliever you can count on having over a full season.
Taylor Rogers and Carlos Santana, thanks, I guess? Good luck somewhere else.
