The Chicago Cubs enter the 2026-27 offseason facing a familiar challenge that has lingered for years: reconstructing a starting rotation capable of supporting a contending team.
With several key arms from the previous season expected to depart in free agency, the front office under Jed Hoyer must prioritize pitching acquisitions if the club hopes to close the gap in the National League Central.
Budget flexibility exists after recent seasons of measured spending, yet the farm system lacks the depth needed to land high-end, controllable starters in trades without significant overpay.
In a recent analysis for Bleacher Report, Kerry Miller identified right-hander Gavin Stone of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cubs’ most logical trade target for starting pitching help.
Miller noted that pursuing one year of an established ace such as Logan Gilbert or Drew Rasmussen would likely prove difficult given Chicago’s prospect inventory, making a lower-cost option more realistic.
Stone, projected for an arbitration salary of roughly $1.2 million in 2027 with three years of team control remaining, fits the profile of a buy-low candidate.
He missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair his shoulder capsule, labrum, and rotator cuff, then dealt with inflammation and a minor biceps issue that prevented any major-league appearances in 2026 despite a limited Triple-A rehab stint.
Stone’s major-league track record offers both encouragement and caution. In 2024 he delivered a breakout campaign, posting an 11-5 record with a 3.53 ERA across 140 1/3 innings and 25 starts for the Dodgers, including a complete-game shutout.
Those results followed a rocky 2023 debut in which he struggled with command and run prevention. The extended absence since late 2024 raises legitimate questions about velocity, durability, and workload management upon his return.
Shoulder procedures of this magnitude often require longer recovery periods than elbow surgeries, and Stone’s 2026 minor-league outings produced mixed results, including stretches of strong strikeout rates alongside occasional difficulty finishing innings.
For the Cubs, acquiring Stone would represent a calculated risk rather than a centerpiece addition.
Chicago could pair him with free-agent signings or other modest trades to rebuild depth at the back of the rotation while preserving financial room for a higher-impact arm elsewhere.
The Dodgers, possessing one of the league’s deepest pitching groups, may view Stone as expendable surplus once he is healthy, particularly if they prefer to reallocate roster spots toward younger prospects or relievers.
A deal centered on lower-tier prospects or salary relief could appeal to both sides without requiring Chicago to empty its already thin farm system.
Whether Stone ultimately contributes 20 or more starts in 2027 remains uncertain, yet the combination of pre-injury production, remaining control, and minimal financial commitment makes him a sensible speculative target as the Cubs map out their pitching plans for next season.
