Cubs Eye Holmes, Peterson to Rebuild Rotation
ESPN's Jesse Rogers names Clay Holmes and David Peterson as possible Chicago Cubs reunion candidates as the team looks to rebuild its starting staff.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
ESPN's Jesse Rogers identified Clay Holmes and David Peterson as potential Chicago Cubs reunion candidates after the team's rotation was exposed by the San Diego Padres in the 2026 NL Wild Card. The Cubs face major questions with Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd both free agents.
Why it matters
Imanaga and Boyd are free agents and Cade Horton is recovering from an injury, leaving the Cubs' rotation thin heading into the offseason. The club will need to add multiple arms to build a capable staff for 2027.
The analysis rests on ESPN's assessment of the Cubs' free-agent and injury situation, with two starters (Imanaga and Boyd) unsigned and Cade Horton recovering from injury. Neither Holmes's nor Peterson's availability or contract terms have been confirmed, and Horton's return timeline is unspecified.
The players
Jesse Rogers
Jesse Rogers is an ESPN baseball reporter and analyst who covers the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago, competing in the National League Central.
The details
Rogers named Holmes and Peterson as reunion candidates while Edward Cabrera is among the few available options on the market. The Cubs' rotation was exposed in the 2026 NL Wild Card loss to the Padres, and the club must now rebuild its starting depth through free agency.
Timeline
The Cubs' rotation was exposed in the 2026 NL Wild Card round.
The Cubs will rebuild the rotation during the 2026-27 offseason.
The target season for a capable rotation is 2027.
Season Trajectory
The Cubs' rotation rebuild sits within the offseason pattern of National League contenders replacing starters through free agency after postseason exits. How the club fills its staff will shape its standing in the NL Central heading into 2027.
Fantasy managers tracking Imanaga, Boyd, or Horton should monitor the Cubs' rotation moves this offseason. Any reunion with Holmes or Peterson would shift the starting pitcher pool for the 2027 season.
The takeaway
Rotation depth is the Cubs' most pressing offseason need, and who they sign will define their 2027 pitching staff. Fans should watch free-agent signings closely as the market develops.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Baseball coverage of the Chicago Cubs.
