Corbin Burnes Expected to Be Cubs' Top Target This Winter

The Chicago Cubs are slowly falling out of the National League wild-card picture as the 2024 season progresses toward its final month. In turn, the upcoming offseason and its importance for Jed Hoyer is receiving increased attention. The Cubs could miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, meaning changes are certainly coming to improve a roster with lots of holes.

Throughout the 2024 campaign, the Cubs' pitching has been outstanding. Justin Steele missed a full month but has returned to his All-Star form from 2023. Shota Imanaga has struggled a bit lately but has still been an incredible addition to the rotation in place of Marcus Stroman. Kyle Hendricks has been better lately, Javier Assad has been steady, and Jameson Taillon has been reliable. Additionally, Ben Brown performed well while splitting time between the bullpen and starting rotation before an odd neck injury plagued his season.

With that all in mind, the Cubs have featured a great rotation and an equally strong bullpen in the second half. However, the rotation will have question marks in 2025. Steele, Imanaga, and Taillon are set to return, but the injuries to Brown, Jordan Wicks, and Cade Horton have clouded the immediate future of Chicago's young pitchers. Furthermore, Hendricks will be a free agent, and Assad might be best suited for a role in the bullpen as a long reliever.

Enter the need for another starting pitcher. 

According to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine, the Cubs are prioritizing Corbin Burnes on the free-agent market. 

Corbin Burnes' Cubs Fit

Corbin Burnes would be a heck of an addition to the Cubs' starting rotation. With uncertainty surrounding young arms, bringing in Burnes would give the Cubs one of the best rotations in baseball. If Jed Hoyer plans to find offensive help via trades more than free agency, prioritizing Burnes makes sense.

Burnes owns a career 3.23 ERA and is pitching brilliantly with a 3.10 mark for the Baltimore Orioles this season. Over 25 starts, Burnes has tossed 153.2 innings with 144 strikeouts against just 38 walks. The 29-year-old will be looking for one hell of a payday as he gets ready to enter his age-30 season.

In addition to Burnes' elite pedigree, the righty has plenty of familiarity with Cubs' skipper Craig Counsell. The fit is increasingly strong with Burnes and the Cubs. 

Whether or not the Cubs land Burnes, targeting the starter would represent meaningful improvement for the starting rotation. That said, if this is the only "sexy move" the Cubs plan on making this upcoming offseason, they'll be in for a harsh reality as a struggling offensive team once again.