The Chicago Cubs have secured a one‑year contract with left-hander Justin Steele for the 2025 season, inking the promising starter to a $6.55 million deal early this January, thereby avoiding arbitration.
Coming off a breakout 2023 campaign—where Steele earned Cy Young votes—and rebounding from a hamstring injury, the Cubs viewed Steele as a cornerstone for their rotation.
During the 2024 season, Steele showcased his effectiveness, tossing 134.2 innings across 24 starts with a stellar 3.07 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Despite battling through injuries, he rounded into form late, delivering a strong 2.47 ERA in his final 19 starts. His performance not only solidified his role but put him in contention to once again open the season as the Cubs’ Game 1 starter.
However, the optimism was short-lived. In early April, Steele landed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow tendinitis. Subsequent diagnostics revealed more serious damage to his flexor tendon and UCL, culminating in season-ending surgery in mid-April. With the lefty ace sidelined, the Cubs have been forced to reshuffle their starting rotation.
In response, Chicago’s front office is exploring multiple avenues to fill Steele’s void. Short-term strategies include leaning on swingmen like Colin Rea and veteran Javier Assad, while longer-term options could involve promotion of top prospect Cade Horton or pursuing trades for mid-rotation arms—names like Sandy Alcántara and Cal Quantrill are reportedly on their radar
Going forward, the Cubs find themselves at a crossroads: whether to stand pat with internal depth and minor league talent, or to aggressively pursue external help via trade‑deadline deals. With Steele out for the season, the team’s rotation strategy and postseason aspirations hinge on how it responds to this unexpected blow.
