Frequently Asked Questions
How many Cubs players are arbitration-eligible heading into 2027?
The Cubs have 12 players from the 2026 roster who will be arbitration-eligible heading into 2027. Not every player is expected to return, but most will, adding roughly $26 million in payroll.
Why will the Cubs decline Javier Assad's $3.3 million option if he's definitely coming back?
The Cubs will decline Assad's $3.3 million mutual option because his projected 2027 arbitration salary of $2.3 million is actually cheaper than the option. Declining it saves the team money while Assad still returns for the 2027 season.
Is Justin Steele healthy enough to pitch for the Cubs in 2027?
Yes, Steele is healthy and expected to follow a normal offseason schedule after pitching in Triple-A to close out the 2026 season. Unlike his uncertain return this past year, he should be fully ready when spring training begins.
What is Michael Busch's projected arbitration salary for 2027 and what did he do in 2026?
Busch is projected to earn $5.4 million in 2027 arbitration. He hit 20 home runs in 2026 but posted a slugging percentage below .400 and a 112 wRC+, which ranked 18th among all first basemen — solid defense but pedestrian offensive numbers overall.
Is Ethan Roberts expected to return to the Cubs in 2027?
Roberts is actually a candidate to be non-tendered or moved on from, as the Cubs may look for a better alternative on the 40-man roster. He carries a career 4.70 ERA in 63 games and has been repeatedly derailed by injuries since making his first Opening Day roster in 2022.
Aldo Soto
With a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University and a decade of Cubs reporting, my work has appeared on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and the Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast. I cover Cubs news and analysis for Sports Mockery, including roster moves, game breakdowns, and prospect development.
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