By Sally Hanson
The Cubs won a playoff series for the first time in eight years.
With clean books beyond 2026, will they make a major rotation addition this winter?
Guaranteed Contracts
- Dansby Swanson, SS: $105MM through 2029
- Ian Happ, LF: $18MM through 2026
- Seiya Suzuki, DH/OF: $18MM through 2026
- Jameson Taillon, SP: $18MM through 2026
- Nico Hoerner, 2B: $12MM through 2026
- Matthew Boyd, SP: $16.5MM through 2026
- Carson Kelly, C: $6.5MM through 2026
Option Decisions
- Shota Imanaga, SP: three-year, $57.75MM club option. If declined, Imanaga has a $15.25MM player option for 2026. If Imanaga exercises that, he’d have another $15.25MM player option for 2027 if the Cubs don’t exercise a $42.5MM club option for 2027-28.
- Andrew Kittredge, RP: $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout
- Colin Rea, SP/RP: $6MM club option with a $750K buyout
- Justin Turner, 1B/DH: $10MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via Matt Swartz)
- Reese McGuire (5.110): $1.9MM
- Justin Steele (4.143): $6.55MM
- Eli Morgan (4.091): $1.1MM
- Javier Assad (3.027): $1.9MM
- Non-tender candidates: McGuire, Morgan
Free Agents
- Kyle Tucker, Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, Drew Pomeranz, Taylor Rogers, Michael Soroka, Aaron Civale, Willi Castro, Ryan Brasier
