Absolutely Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Chicago Cubs ...Middle East

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Boom. We made it. Jed Hoyer’s surprisngly active and promising offseason is over, and the Cubs’ regular season begins THIS THURSDAY!

But in case you slept through the winter (and spring), I’m here to catch you up on everything you need to know before Game 1 of 162. It’s the 2026 Chicago Cubs for Dummies. Let’s go.

Theme of the Season: Time to Win

Around this time last year, the unifying theme of the season was all of the one-year wonders: Each of the Cubs’ president (Jed Hoyer), GM (Carter Hawkins), best player (Kyle Tucker), and closer (Ryan Pressly) was on an expiring deal, and it seemed like extension talks (for the first three, at least) would become the focus of the year. Ultimately, only the executives were retained, which feels right in retrospect.

This year, the one-year player list is even more exhaustive …

Potential Cubs Free Agents:

Shota Imanaga, SP Matthew Boyd, SP Jameson Taillon, SP Ian Happ, LF Seiya Suzuki, RF Carson Kelly, C Nico Hoerner, 2B Colin Rea, RHP (club option) Hunter Harvey, RHP Caleb Thielbar, LHP Hoby Milner, LHP Jacob Webb, RHP (club option) Tyler Austin, UTL

… That’s three starting pitchers, two starting outfielders, the starting catcher, the starting second baseman, five big league relievers, and a bench bat.

And yet, that is not really on my mind at all right now. Instead, for the first time in a long time, the goal is clear: It’s time to win. Like, the whole dang thing.

This Cubs team was very good last year and put up a nice fight down the stretch and into the playoffs, forcing Game 5 of the NLDS before being eliminated. And with most of the key players returning, Jed Hoyer orchestrated one of the most satisfying offseasons in recent Cubs memory, elevating the expectations to World Series or bust from Day 1.

With an NL Central that has seen the Brewers take a step back, the Cardinals completely rebuilding, and the Pirates/Reds maybe just a little early in their competitive cycle, the division is ripe for the taking, and the Cubs need to dominate from gate to gate.

Bottom line: I have not been this optimistic about a Cubs team since probably 2017-2018. And just purely as a fan, this has got to be the most likable team in a decade.

Cubs Offseason Additions

Cubs President Jed Hoyer was NOT messing around this offseason. From my perspective, he essentially pulled off a perfect winter (which is not to say he got all the best players — he didn’t — but he checked every single box in his own way). A majority of the work came in free agency, but there was one key trade, too.

Let’s start with the money.

Notable Cubs Free Agent Signings

Alex Bregman, 3B: 5 Years, $175M Shota Imanaga: 1 Year, $22.5M Phil Maton, RP: 2 years, $14.5M Hunter Harvey, RP: 1 Year, $6M Caleb Thielbar, RP: 1 Year, $4.5M Hoby Milner, RP: 1 year, $3.75M Michael Conforto: 1 Year, ~$2M Jacob Webb, RP: 1 Year, $1.5M Tyler Austin, 1B: 1 Year, $1.25M

You can click on their names for details on each signing.

Most of the attention here is going to go to Alex Bregman, of course, whom the Cubs signed to a five-year, $175M deal (which, when accounting for deferrals, is closer to $150M in present-day value). And that’s understandable. The Cubs tried hard to get Bregman last year and finally reeled in their big fish this time around, going to a price level and contract structure that has typically been out of their comfort zone.

HOWEVER, I think the more unusual offseason approach, and the thing that makes me feel like the CUBS feel they’re close, is how much money they spent on the bullpen. No, the Cubs didn’t go out and sign any of the big free agent closers who were available this winter (and there were a lot of them), but they did spend upwards of $30M building their new crop of relievers, which is completely against their typical M.O. And for the most part, we really like the group they built.

Daniel Palencia is going to be the closer, but there are some legitimate, big-league arms coming in this year, and the hope would be that it resolves some of those common (for the Cubs) early-season issues shutting games down.

There’s also Shota Imanaga, who wasn’t exactly a normal free-agent signing, but effectively did end up in that category. If you recall, the Cubs declined their club option on Imanaga, who returned the favor by declining his player option. They then extended the qualifying offer, which he accepted, making him a free agent at the end of the year. If he had declined that qualifying offer, the Cubs almost certainly would have signed another sure-fire starting pitcher in his place. So to me, that makes Imanaga count as a free agent signing.

There were some other notable minor league deals, including Dylan Carlson, Chas McCormick, Kyle Wright, Shelby Miller, etc. But those are more of the complementary, depth, or long-term variety. With that said, Michael Conforto will make around $2M now that he’s made the Opening Day roster. And given Seiya Suzuki’s late-spring injury, that proved a prescient decision.

In any case, for however big the Bregman + Imanaga + bullpen free agent additions were this winter, the Cubs’ biggest and most impactful move may have actually come via trade.

Edward Cabrera Acquired via Trade

This winter, the Cubs traded (arguably) their top prospect, Owen Caissie, along with Edgardo De Leon and Christian Hernandez to the Miami Marlins for right-handed starter Edward Cabrera.

BREAKING: Cubs are finalizing a deal to acquire SP Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins.

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) January 7, 2026

Cabrera, 27, is coming off his best season in the big leagues (3.53 ERA, 137.2 IP) and comes with three full seasons of team control, right in the thick of his prime. More importantly, he’s precisely the sort of big (6’5″), hard-throwing (97 MPH heater), high-upside (true Ace potential) arm the Cubs have been seeking for years.

Historically, Cabrera has had some issues staying healthy (his 137.2 IP in 2025 were by far the most he’s thrown in a single season) and achieving that greatness, but the Cubs have loved this guy for a while and finally got their guy.

Some important notes on Cabrera: (1) His once wild walk rate came down big time last season as he adjusted his pitch mix. (2) He gets a lot of strikeouts (25.8% last season), but that’s not the only way he succeeds. (3) And that’s because Cabrera is also quite good at generating groundballs and staying off the barrel, which should work very well for him in front of a very impressive Cubs defense.

Notable Cubs Exits

Everyday Players/Starters:

Kyle Tucker, OF (free agency) Brad Keller, RP (free agency) Andrew Kittredge, RP (traded to Orioles for cash) Taylor Rogers, RP (free agency) Drew Pomeranz, RP (free agency) Justin Turner, 1B (free agency) Aaron Civale, SP (free agency) Willi Castro, UTL (free agency) Michael Soroka, SP (free agency) Ryan Brasier, RP (free agency) Carlos Santana, 1B (free agency) Eli Morgan, RP (non-tendered) Reese McGuire, C (non-tendered) Owen Caissie, OF (traded for Cabrera)

The biggest subtraction, of course, is Kyle Tucker, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But don’t sleep on the impact of losing Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, Taylor Rogers, and Drew Pomeranz, all of whom wound up being key bullpen contributors by the end of the year. That’s sort of why the Cubs had to go out and rebuild their bullpen in the first place.

Owen Caissie is also a notable subtraction, though the Cubs were comfortable dealing him given the presence of Seiya Suzuki (takes over right field) and Moises Ballesteros (takes over DH).

I don’t want to understate the loss of Kyle Tucker (Alex Bregman will very likely not replace his bat), but on the whole, the Cubs added more talent than they lost.

The Biggest Story

Outside of hopefully contending for the World Series, I think the biggest story this year is going to revolve around Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The Cubs’ young center fielder absolutely OBLITERATED the league in the first half of last season, looking like a legitimate MVP contender capable of contributing at an elite level in all phases of the game. But the wheels fell off in the second half of the season, and he never really got his swagger back.

First Half: .265/.302/.544 (131 wRC+); 25 HRs, 27 SBs Second Half: .216/.262/.372 (72 wRC+); 6 HRs, 8 SBs

He still wound up winning a Gold Glove and becoming just the second Cubs player EVER to hit at least 30 homers and steal at least 30 bases in a single season (Sammy Sosa is the other), but I don’t think anyone really knows which version of PCA we’re going to get this year.

The good news is that even if PCA is merely a league-average bat, his base running and defense will keep him firmly in the very valuable/near All-Star level. But we saw what he CAN do, and until we know he’s not going to be that guy again, that’s where the focus is (and should be.

***

Now, with that said, there are five other HUGE potential story lines, from where I sit, and you should already know all about them:

Cade Horton: The Cubs’ rookie starter had an incredible debut last season and really looks like he’s ready to potentially lead this rotation for the next 5+ years. Will he have a sophomore slump, or did the Cubs finally develop their own ace? Alex Bregman: It’s never NOT going to be a big deal when you sign a guy to a $175M contract, but Bregman falls just below “top story” for me. I think we know that his leadership, steady presence on the field, and always positive offensive contributions will be there; the question is if he has at least one more BIG offensive season left in the tank. He’s not that old, and his first half last year sure seemed to suggest he has more to offer. We’ll see. Edward Cabrera: Given the lurking upside, you could convince me that Cabrera is actually the top story for the Cubs this season. Will he stay healthy? Will he maintain his command? Will he finally take that leap into the upper echelon of starters across the league? The answers to those questions will very likely define the Cubs’ season to an extent. But with so much starting depth (and upside), Cabrera just isn’t the top story for me. Matt Shaw: Despite being nominated for a Gold Glove award at his brand new position, Matt Shaw did not have the debut season he was hoping for. He struggled to hit for most of the season and was both benched and sent to Iowa at varying points. He did change his swing mid-season and have more success in the second-half, but that success is often overstated by Cubs fans, who fail to realize that it was shorter-lived than we remember. Specifically, after August 15, Shaw had just an 86 wRC+ with a 26.3% strikeout rate. And now, with the addition of Alex Bregman, Shaw has been pushed into a complementary role at least for one season. How will he take to that role? And is he the heir apparent at second base to Nico Hoerner? Daniel Palencia: The Cubs did rebuild their bullpen in a big way, but the one spot they stayed internal is the most important: Closer. Craig Counsell was quick to hand Palencia the job this spring, and we saw what he is capable of most of last season. But will he come back just as strong, or will he follow the path(s) set by Adbert Alzolay and Porter Hodge, who couldn’t follow up their breakout closer-ascendant seasons the following year(s)?

And honestly, I could go on: Is Shota Imanaga going to bounce back? Is Matthew Boyd going to repeat his success? Will Justin Steele be the same when he returns from the IL? Is Nico Hoerner going to retain that newfound power stroke? Will ABS fundamentally change Seiya Suzuki’s season (he has the most balls called strikes of anyone in baseball)? Will Miguel Amaya continue his breakout if he stays healthy? Is Michael Busch really one of the best hitters in baseball? Is Moises Ballesteros actually going to hit as well as he did last year?

So much upside, but so many questions. Not all of it will go the Cubs’ way. But like I keep saying, they have as much talent assembled as any Cubs roster in recent memory. They just need some of these things to break right.

Cubs Position Players

DH – Moises BallesterosC – Carson Kelly1B – Michael Busch2B – Nico Hoerner3B – Alex BregmanSS – Dansby SwansonLF – Ian HappCF – Pete Crow-ArmstrongRF – Seiya Suzuki (but not on Opening Day)

Bench: Locked in: Miguel Amaya, Matt Shaw, Michael Conforto … Likely final spots: Dylan Carlson, Kevin Alcantara, a surpise addition?

Injured/IL: Tyler Austin, Seiya Suzuki

Tyler Austin was originally slated to be the primary backup at 1B and a right-handed alternative for Michael Busch against tough lefties, but he had knee surgery and will be out for months.

Seiya Suzuki hurt himself in the WBC. It shouldn’t be a long absence, but he is starting the year out on the IL.

2026 Cubs Starting Rotation

Matthew Boyd, LHP – Opening Day SP Cade Horton, RHP Edward Cabrera, RHP Shota Imanaga, LHP Jameson Taillon, RHP

Depth: Javier Assad (Iowa), Colin Rea, Ben Brown (big league bullpen)IL: Jordan Wicks, Justin Steele

Jordan Wicks (radial nerve irritation) is starting the year on the IL, which leaves us with no clear understanding of what he can still be or if he can get over the hump. Justin Steele is also beginning the year on the Injured List after elbow surgery last April. But he’s been cleared by his doctor and is aiming for a late-May return to the team.

Javier Assad and Colin Rea are both very solid depth starters, each with upside beyond that. And Ben Brown has introduced a new pitch, which we all hope helps him unlock a more sustainable approach as a big league arm, regardless of whether that’s in the rotation or out of the ‘pen.

2026 Cubs Bullpen

More or less locked in:

Daniel Palencia, RHP (Closer) Phil Maton, RHP (primary set-up man) Hunter Harvey, RHP (leverage righty) Caleb Thielbar, LHP (leverage lefty) Hoby Milner, LHP (leverage lefty) Jacob Webb, RHP (middle relief) Colin Rea, RHP (long man) Ben Brown, RHP (long … or maybe leverage?)

Other potential options:

Javier Assad, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP Luke Little, LHP Riley Martin, LHP Jack Neely, RHP Ethan Roberts, RHP Ryan Rolison, LHP

Injured List: Porter Hodge

Porter Hodge (right elbow flexor strain) is starting the year on the IL, following a really disappointing sophomore season in Chicago and Iowa. Hodge had risen from Double-A to closer in 2024, but couldn’t keep it going last year and now this.

In any case, my guess is that we see every single one of the pitchers listed above in Chicago at one point or another this season. That’s just how it goes.

Top Cubs Prospects We Might See Soon

The Cubs should get meaningful contributions from several of their top prospects this season. I’m going to exclude Moises Ballesteros from this conversation, though. He is technically still a prospect, but that will expire soon, and he’s already made the Opening Day roster. So just count him as “up” already.

Beyond him, here are some guys who might contribute in meaningful ways as the year goes on:

Jaxon Wiggins, SP (Iowa) Jonathan Long, IF (Iowa) Kevin Alcantara, OF (Iowa) James Triantos, 2B/OF

Wiggins is arguably the Cubs’ top prospect at the moment, and could be another electric mid-season addition to the big league Cubs. Maybe that means starts out of the rotation, maybe that means innings out of the bullpen. But he’s big and comes with a 70-grade fastball that can reach 100 MPH.

Jonathan Long was the Cubs 2025 Minor League Player of the Year. The bat is ready, but the Cubs want him to play every day, and right now, in the big leagues, there aren’t a ton of opportunities. But I think we’ll see him soon enough.

Kevin Alcantara is maybe the Cubs’ actual best backup option in center field, but he can play all three outfield spots and is still a true prospect (albeit one who’s stalled just a little bit). His upside remains high, but the floor is low. Big year developmentally for him.

James Triantos is a post-hype prospect at this point, but he’s not old, and you never know when something might click. Infield guy, though not really shortstop. More like 2B/3B.

Cubs Expectations

I think I’ve been pretty clear about MY expectations for the Cubs this year, but I’ll re-state for the record, and clarify just a bit: While I say we’re at ‘World Series or Bust’ level expectations, that’s a bit unfair. The MLB Playoffs just don’t work that way. HOWEVER, I will say that I unequivocally expect and need the Cubs to aim for winning one of the top-2 seeds in the NL (that means winning the Central and having one of the top two records in the NL). Why? Because that guarantees you a first-round bye past that perilous 3-game Wild Card series.

We saw last year how tough that series can be and how much it throws off your entire pitching staff. Cannot be a Wild Card team. Cannot be a division winner with the third-best record. Sorry. Them’s the terms.

FanGraphs: 86-76 (63.1% make playoffs) PECOTA: 90-72 (82.7% make playoffs)

Cool Cubs Opponents/Events

Here are some of the key/fun dates on the calendar. Oh, and before I forget, don’t miss our brand new Cubs schedule feature on the Cubs category page. You can check out the full 2026 Chicago Cubs schedule with times, tickets, and streaming options.

March 26: Opening Day/Home Opener April 24: First Dodgers Series (in L.A.) May 15-17: Cubs vs White Sox (at Rate Field) May 18-20: First Brewers Series (in Chicago) May 29-May 31: First Cardinals Series (in STL) July 13-July 16: All-Star Break July 31-Aug 2: Cubs vs Yankees (in Chicago) Aug 17-19: Cubs vs White Sox (at Wrigley Field) Sep 25-27: Cubs vs Red Sox (in Boston)

New MLB Rules

Three years ago, MLB introduced a TON of new rules, including shift limits, bigger bases, pickoff limits, and the pitch clock. Those rule changes led to significantly shorter games and many more stolen bases.

Two years ago, the rule changes were less significant, effectively amounting to mere adjustments to existing rules. For example, the Pitch Clock and number of allowed mound visits were reduced, while the running lane to first was widened, the three-batter minimum was tweaked, and the blocking the bag without the ball rule was actually enforced.

Last year, MLB kept it simple again, with just two new rules, touching on shift penalties and running past the bag at 2B in certain circumstances (it’s not that important, don’t worry about it).

But this year? Hoooo boy, the game is about to look VERY different. And that’s because robo-umps are finally here.

The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS for short) is officially here. We saw it last Spring, we saw it this spring, and now it’s made its way into the regular season. In case you missed our deeper dive on how it will work, here is the short version:

Each team starts with 2 challenges Successful challenges are kept Only the pitcher, catcher, or batter can challenge a call In extra-innings, a team with no challenges left gets 1 challenge

In practice, it looks something like this: A pitch is thrown, someone challenges by tapping their head, the ump steps out of the box to signal the challenge, the ABS does its thing, and the call is made.

There are a lot more specifics on what happens in awkward circumstances (like steals), but you can catch that all here.

The second rule change is just about base coaches actually staying in the coaches’ box. There are warnings and ejections. I don’t expect this to be a big thing this year.

And finally, there are some rules about runners not deliberately trying to draw an obstruction call (think rundown situations).

New Bleacher Nation Stuff

Our Cubs category page got a little face-lift. In addition to a new layout, we’ve added a schedule page, a roster page, a stats page (current season stats will populate once we get going), and we will eventually have standings and transaction pages, too. All live updating. Hopefully, that adds a little bit of extra value to your Cubs experience here at BN.

Likewise, Brett and I are now being joined in our coverage by part-timers Cole Bair (weekend work), Jacob Zanolla (some light week-day work, game coverage), and Tony Andracki (1-2 articles a week in his style). We covered that on Friday.

We will also, once again, have some live watch parties, some ticket giveaways, and we’re still running out Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast, if you’re looking for even more! And I have other surprises planned. Stay tuned.

I also wrote a children’s Cubs book! It will be available on April 7, but you can pre-order RIGHT NOW:

BREAKING: I wrote a children's book!It's about a little boy's first trip to Wrigley Field to sit in the bleachers and watch the Cubs. And it prepares them for everything they'll see, feel … smell, and more!I really hope you like it.Pre-order here: t.co/M1vOSVixtt pic.twitter.com/XDLyc7pPMh

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) January 28, 2026

Okay, that’s it. Go Cubs.

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