Cubs' Boyd, Holmes decline player options, set to become free agents

Matthew Boyd. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cubs' Matthew Boyd, Clay Holmes decline player options, set to become free agents

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Oct 29, 2026 11:57 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs are going to need a major overhaul of their starting rotation ahead of the 2027 season.

A rotation that was already set to lose Kevin Gausman, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson to free agency got more bad news Thursday regarding its potential staff for the next season.

Matthew Boyd, Clay Holmes to become free agents

According to ESPN Cubs insider Jesse Rogers, both Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes are declining their player options and will become free agents.

Boyd has been with Chicago since the 2025 season, while Holmes was brought in ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Each of the two played a key role in the Cubs making the postseason in 2026, but neither was impactful in Chicago's exit in the NL wild-card series.

Boyd earned the loss in Game 1 of that series, while Holmes never even made an appearance in the two games.

Cubs off season will be busy on the mound. Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd are turning down their player options to become free agents. Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman and David Peterson are FA’s as well. Have to rebuild the staff. Guess is 1-2 of above could return.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 29, 2026

Where could Matthew Boyd and Clay Holmes land?

There is a possibility that one or even both Boyd and Holmes return to Chicago. If not, though, there are several intriguing landing spots for them.

For Boyd, a return to either the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers makes sense, as both of those teams could use rotation help both next season and beyond.

For Holmes, it also makes sense that he could return to one of his former teams, the New York Yankees or the New York Mets. Both of those teams are always active in the starting pitching market, and Holmes would be a great fit in either place.

There will certainly be markets for both pitchers, and they'll likely make a big impact for whichever teams they decide to sign with.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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