The Chicago Cubs’ depth in the area of starting pitching has been well documented. If everyone stays healthy and performs up to expectations– and that’s a big “if’ – they could be carrying as many as 10 possible big league starters on their roster.
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Right now, the rotation seems to be Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga. At some point, by mid-season, ace Justin Steele should be fully back from elbow surgery and ready for a spot. That would give the Cubs six capable starters, plus Colin Rea, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, and Javier Assad in reserve.
As things are currently playing out, though, the 28-year-old Assad may have complicated that plan.
Assad is killing it this spring
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Assad, following an injury-marred 2025 that kept him off the big league roster until August 12, is healthy and killing it this spring. He’s thrown 4.1 impressive, scoreless innings in Cactus League play and most recently pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in a start for Team Mexico against Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.
The native of Tijuana has been an overlook asset for the Cubs, often relegated to being an afterthought in the team’s starting rotation plans. He’s been consistently successful, though, posting a 3.43 ERA over 4 years and 331 innings as both a starter and reliever.
Many feel that Assad may begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Iowa, only because he’s one of the few Cubs pitchers with minor league options remaining. He’s been so sharp this spring, however, that he may force his way on to the big league Opening Day roster.
Some might say that he’s also making a serious bid for a rotation spot.
Complicating the Cubs’ Plan A
“You don’t know what’s going to happen right now,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “You’ve got Plan A. It’s, ‘How long can you be on Plan A?’ At some point, you’re going to have to go to a different plan. That’s why more than the [13 MLB pitchers] is really important. And then, just how we handle building out the team, that’s not set in stone by any means.”
There still seems to be some reluctance to give Assad a full-on starter gig. The reason for that is probably tied to underlying metrics and what those numbers say about a pitcher who is clearly not an overpowering thoroughbred stud.
But if he keeps succeeding, there HAS to be a spot for him. And there’s enough history behind him to suggest that his past successes were not flukes.
“Somebody like Javy, the point is, you don’t try to figure out where they fit,” Counsell said on Saturday. “We don’t have to do that. At some point, we’re going to need Javy’s outs. When, is probably the question. But we want him pitching well and obviously he’s shown the ability to get big league hitters out and at a pretty high level.”
At some point, the Cubs will need Assad and what he brings to the team. The only question seems to be how long before he gets the spot he’s earned.
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