Why the Chicago Cubs declined the 2027 option on Javier Assad

The Chicago Cubs are in desperate need of pitching this coming season and are reportedly devoting most of their energies and funds in pursuit of arms this offseason.

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Given this reality, it sounds odd that the two biggest pitching decisions so far this late fall have involved the Cubs declining options on two veteran pitchers.

On Monday, they officially parted ways with swingman Colin Rea, opting to decline their $7.5 million 2027 option on the right-hander.

The following day, the Cubs declined their $3.3 million club option on righty swingman Javier Assad.

Unlike with Rae, though, Chicago doesn’t intend to let Assad move on to the free agent marketplace. They will retain team control over the 29-year-old through the 2028 season as an arbitration-eligible veteran.

All about the money?

Javier Assad, Chicago Cubs — Apr 7, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad (72) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

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This recent Assad move appears to be entirely based on money.

MLB Trade Rumors projects that Assad’s salary after arbitration would be $2.3 million—a full million less than what they would’ve had to pay him had they exercised their option. In the big picture, a million dollars doesn’t mean a whole lot to the Cubs. But when added to the $7.5 million from letting Rea walk—plus the over $100 million coming off the books via outgoing free agents—the Cubs will come into their offseason pitching spending spree with enough money to go after any free agent they like.

With so much need, they’ll have to make multiple purchases before the spring and also probably work some trades.

Unsung, Underappreciated?

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Javier Assad (72) walks back to the dugout after a strike out
during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

Assad is regarded by many as an unsung and wildly underappreciated pitcher on the Cubs staff. Over the course of his five-year career with the big league Cubs, he’s posted a 24-14 record with a combined 3.47 ERA over 106 games and 425.1 innings. During that time, 65 of his appearances have come as a starter and 41 have come out of the bullpen.

The native of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico should play the same role in 2027 as he did in 2025 and 2026—rotation-capable swingman who can also handle long relief duties from the pen. He could also, once again, start the coming season in the minors as a pitcher with minor league options remaining, to accommodate pitchers with less roster flexibility.

True believers in analytics will point out that Assad’s underlying numbers tell the tale of someone who’s been very fortunate in putting together solid stats over the course of his career. His strikeout rate is low, his career walk rate is above league average, and his career FIP is over a run higher than his ERA (4.56). All of this suggests that Assad is due for a coming down to earth.

However, he’s been due for that humbling for five years now, while all he does is succeed.

Expect him to be in the race for the fifth starter spot in the Cubs’ 2027 rotation and as an emergency starter in case of injury, lurking in the bullpen or at Triple-A.

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