MLB Offseason Priorities: Cubs Need rotation Help,Rangers Face Bullpen Overhaul
As the MLB offseason heats up,several teams face critical needs that will define their 2026 contention windows. HereS a breakdown of two organizations with especially pressing concerns, and how they might address them.
Chicago Cubs: Finding a True Ace
The Cubs enjoyed a successful 2025, but a meaningful question mark hangs over their starting rotation heading into next season. They lack a definitive No. 1 starter, a crucial piece for deep playoff runs.
Several arms have shown flashes, but consistency is key. Steele and Imanaga have demonstrated ace-level potential in the past. Though, Steele needs to regain full health, and Imanaga struggled down the stretch, allowing a concerning 40 earned runs and 20 home runs over his final 69 2/3 innings.
fortunately, the Cubs have a workhorse in Kyle Boyd. The 34-year-old shouldered a career-high 179 2/3 innings after consistently delivering from 2021-24. Rookie Cade Horton also absorbed a significant workload, pitching 147 frames across Triple-A and the majors.
To truly solidify their rotation, the Cubs should aggressively pursue top free-agent starters.They’ve already been linked to pitchers like Dylan Cease and Michael King, and exploring all available options is paramount. Securing a proven rotation leader will be vital for sustained success.
Texas Rangers: rebuilding a Depleted Bullpen
Just about every playoff-hopeful team wants to bolster its relief corps this offseason. However, few face the sheer scale of the challenge confronting the Texas Rangers. Nearly 60% of their 2025 bullpen innings are now on the free-agent market.
Key contributors like Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, and Jacob Webb are all without contracts. Even a midseason acquisition has moved on. This leaves a significant void in a unit that was inconsistent in 2025.
The Rangers have navigated this situation before. Last winter,they successfully rebuilt their bullpen with a series of one-year deals for Milner,armstrong,Webb,and Chris Martin. These additions formed a crucial part of a unit that posted a 3.62 ERA and 3.97 FIP.
President of baseball operations Chris Young faces a similar task now, but the reliever market is robust.Several high-impact arms are available,including:
* Edwin Díaz
* Robert Suarez
* Devin Williams
* Kenley Jansen
* Pete Fairbanks
The Rangers struggled to close out games in 2025,blowing 29 saves – tied for the second-most in MLB. their 56.1% save percentage ranked 25th. Thus,identifying and acquiring a reliable closer should be a top priority.
Successfully rebuilding the bullpen will be essential for the Rangers to return to contention in 2026. A revamped ‘pen, combined with their potent offense, could make them a force in the American League.
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