Chicago Cubs again linked to high-ceiling free agent starting pitcher

The Chicago Cubs vowed to be fully focused on pitching this offseason after a playoff run that ended, in great part, due to a lack of depth in both the rotation and bullpen. So far, they’ve lived up to their promise.

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They settled up with lefty Shota Imanaga, bringing back the starter on a mutually agreed-upon one-year, $22 million qualifying offer deal. Chicago, tasked with rebuilding almost their entire bullpen, also signed veteran free agent reliever Phil Maton to a two-year, $14.5 million contract (with an option for a third year).

Obviously, though, there’s a lot more work to be done.

Chicago Cubs pitching needs

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A conservative estimate would be that the Cubs need to add at least 3-4 sure-thing arms to the bullpen, as well as some quality depth pieces. They also need to add at least one more high-end starter to their rotation.

The Cubs had been linked to former Cubs prospect Dylan Cease, but the hard-throwing righty just signed a 7-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Other pitchers on a Cubs wish list, like Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, seem more like fan fiction at this point.

But one free agent starting pitching name has kept popping up in Cubs talk this offseason and it might be nice to feel that, in this case, where there’s smoke, there’s at least the inkling of a fire.

Michael King, linked to the Cubs again

Michael King, the Padres’ second-best departing starter behind Cease, remains a potential Cubs target and, at the very least, a logical fit for the team’s needs.

Andy McCullough of The Athletic, writing about one Black Friday 2025 free-agent deal for each MLB team, ties the 30-year-old King to the Cubs.

Per McCullough:

“The Cubs may well get out-bid for the services of King by a team more willing to pay top dollar for a talented pitcher who has not yet proved he can handle the rigor of a full season as a starter. But King has an elevated ceiling, perhaps the highest of any pitcher on the market, and likely won’t require a long-term deal.”

Not too long ago, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, also of The Athletic, talked up the Cubs’ apparent interest in the free agent:

“Michael King is another pitcher the Cubs have on their radar, viewing him as a starter with big upside when healthy. His work ethic, intelligence and feel for pitching are attributes that the Cubs previously targeted with free agents such as Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd.”

High-ceiling, significant risk

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden projects that King could go for $75 million over three years. It’s a price that would stretch the boundaries of the Cubs’ per-year desire to spend. However, the relative short 3-year contract would be appealing to their conservative sensibilities as well.

But, while King’s ceiling is high and his ability to miss bats would be welcomed, there’s also some considerable risk involved in such a deal, hence only a projected 3-year contract.

The former reliever followed up his stellar first year as a full-time starter with a 2025 hampered by a nerve issue in his right shoulder and, later, a knee injury. The physical issues limited him to just 15 starts, although he still managed to finish the year with a very solid 3.44 ERA.

When healthy, King is elite. In 2024, he finished the year with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 173.2 innings. The question with him is whether he’ll get back to being healthy in 2026 and beyond. It’s a similar risk to the one the Cubs took in signing the injury prone Matthew Boyd to a 2-year, $29 million deal, just at a higher AAV with, arguably, a greater upside attached to King’s success.

There’s a lot to like about a possible King-Cubs marriage. The promise of a returning Justin Steele and a complete year of a fully-actualized Cade Horton would take some of the pressure off the incoming arm as he settles into his new home. In a best case scenario, a pitcher like King could make the difference between targeting a playoff berth and making a legitimate run at a championship.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-michael-king-free-agent-2026