Report: Cubs Interested in Reunion With Star Pitcher

The Chicago Cubs are gearing up for an aggressive offseason, with right-hander Dylan Cease emerging as a prime target to bolster their starting pitching, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

Cease, a former Cubs draft pick, represents both a homecoming and a high-upside addition for a rotation craving elite strikeout ability. Originally selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, Cease rose through the minor leagues as a top prospect before being traded to the crosstown White Sox in 2017 alongside slugger Eloy Jiménez in exchange for left-hander José Quintana.

That deal proved transformative for the South Siders. Cease evolved into an ace, finishing as the Cy Young runner-up in 2022 with a dominant campaign. He was later shipped to the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2024 season in another blockbuster move.

Even after a challenging 2025 season that saw him post a 4.55 ERA, Cease’s appeal remains undiminished. Advanced metrics highlight underlying strengths that outpace his traditional stats, positioning him as a rebound candidate with the raw stuff to dominate.

What makes him particularly enticing for the Cubs? Pure power and swing-and-miss prowess—qualities conspicuously absent from their current group.

Cease has struck out at least 200 batters in five consecutive seasons while making at least 32 starts each year. For a Cubs staff that leaned on control and consistency in 2025, injecting Cease’s high-velocity arsenal could elevate the entire unit.

Justin Steele is slated to return from surgery, and the club is expected to exercise Colin Rea’s option, providing solid depth. Yet the rotation still lacks a true flamethrower capable of shortening games and racking up Ks in bulk.

Acquiring Cease, however, comes with hurdles. Represented by super-agent Scott Boras, he’s unlikely to extend any sentimental discount to the organization that drafted him. Industry projections peg his next contract at north of $100 million, a threshold the Cubs have rarely crossed in free agency.

Since 2015, only Yu Darvish and Dansby Swanson have secured nine-figure pacts from the North Siders. Complicating matters further, Cease is expected to receive a qualifying offer from the Padres.

Chicago has steadfastly avoided such players in recent years, with Swanson marking the sole exception in nearly a decade.

The Cubs’ level of commitment may hinge on another key decision: whether left-hander Shota Imanaga opts out of his current deal. Should Imanaga bolt, replacing him with a proven arm like Cease becomes a top priority. If he remains locked in alongside veterans Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd, plus rising rookie Cade Horton, the front office might shift focus to infield upgrades or bullpen reinforcements.

In a loaded NL Central where every edge matters, bringing Cease back to Wrigley Field could signal the Cubs’ intent to contend immediately. A reunion with their one-time phenom isn’t just poetic—it’s a strategic swing at transforming a good rotation into a great one.