The Chicago Cubs focused on strengthening their starting rotation depth this offseason. In December, they signed free-agent left-hander Matthew Boyd and acquired right-hander Cody Poteet in the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. Then, in January, they added right-hander Brad Keller on a minor league deal and signed former Brewers pitcher Colin Rea to a major league contract.
With spring training just beginning on Monday, that depth may already be put to the test. According to multiple reports from Arizona, manager Craig Counsell revealed that right-hander Javier Assad is undergoing an MRI for a strained oblique that has sidelined him from spring training activities. Assad, 26, was a bright spot in the Cubs’ rotation last season. In his first full year as a starter, he went 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA over 29 starts. Originally an unheralded prospect from Tijuana, Assad primarily pitched in relief in 2022-23 before breaking out as a reliable starter in 2024. He logged career highs with 29 starts, 147 innings pitched, a 3.73 ERA, and a 1.40 WHIP, striking out 124 batters while issuing 63 walks.
Early injuries in camp are always concerning, but they also allow for a longer recovery window before Opening Day. The Cubs will begin their 2025 season with a two-game series against the Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18-19. While Assad wasn’t necessarily expected to start in either game, his oblique strain—an injury notoriously difficult to predict in terms of recovery—makes it increasingly likely that he’ll start the season on the injured list. He could be activated once the team returns to play stateside.
Shota Imanaga, a native of Japan, is expected to start one of the Tokyo games, while Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Boyd, and Rea are leading candidates for the other. If Assad’s MRI reveals a more serious issue, the Cubs may look to add another veteran arm from the free-agent market, which still features options like Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney, Lance Lynn, Jose Quintana, and Spencer Turnbull.