Chicago Cubs linked to Japanese stars ahead of uncertain offseason

The Chicago Cubs have lots of hard work and many hard decisions to make ahead of this offseason. In the wake of an ultimately disappointing 2026, they now have to figure out who among their many free agents they want back and, then, how to fill the numerous holes that will be left behind from those who leave.

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The team will have their entire end-of-season starting rotation eligible for free agency, along with at least a third of their bullpen, their two starting corner outfielders, their top catcher, and two veteran outfield bench assets.

And as players leave, there’s just not a lot of security when it comes to roster depth for the coming season. Starter Justin Steele won’t have thrown a major league pitch in nearly two years, Ben Brown’s recurring neck issue threatens to derail a promising career just as it was teasing next-level success. Emerging ace Cade Horton, after Tommy John surgery, will likely miss most—if not all—the coming season. And there are just performance uncertainties from the likes of Edward Cabrera, Phil Maton, and Jacob Webb.

Tapping the Japanese market

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With a lot of holes to fill and not a whole lot of time in which to do it, the Cubs may take a longer look at incoming Japanese talent to beef up their roster. As Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga depart, Chicago may view such a move as both a grab at some outside-the-box talent as well as a shrewd business move.

Per Brett Taylor of Bleacher Nation:

“The Cubs really need to make sure they have a big-time Japanese player on the 2027 team. It’s critical to maintaining their organizational expertise in incorporating Japanese talent, their pipeline to Japanese talent in the first place, and their access to fan-driven opportunities in Asia.”

Buzz has been minimal at this point, but the name most often connected with the team is pitcher Kaima Taira, the hard-throwing fireplug of a competitor who the Cubs recently went out of their way to scout.

Per Evan Altman of Cubs Insider:

“The Cubs need to add velocity without sacrificing grounders as they look to rebuild a pitching staff that simply wasn’t good enough in 2026, and the ideal solution might be stocky right-hander Kaima Taira. He’s not your prototypical MLB starter at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, but he touches 100 mph and just posted a 1.36 ERA over 146 innings for the NPB’s Saitama Seibu Lions. Despite his extreme outlier frame, Taira might be the best free-agent starter behind Tarik Skubal this offseason.”

Taira and others

Taira has worked from the bullpen as well as the rotation, but has seemed to find his stride as a starter. He also boasts a groundball rate of over 50%, which would work quite well with Chicago’s elite infield defense behind him.

Another Japanese option linked to the Cubs is the power-hitting lefty Teruaki Sato—a four-time All-Star and last year’s Central League MVP. Although an elite defender at his natural position of third base, he’s also said to be more than capable at either of the corner outfield spots. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Phillies are reported to be showing interest—with all likely bringing him aboard at his more comfortable spot at the hot corner—so the Cubs acquiring him would seem to be an uphill battle.

And there are other quality names out there, mostly from the pitching side of things. At this point and given their particular circumstances, every roster option has to be explored.

The post Chicago Cubs linked to Japanese stars ahead of uncertain offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-japanese-free-agents-2027/