KBO Free Agents could be part of Cubs’ pitching blueprint |
Dustin Riese
· · 8 hours ago
After listening to Jed Hoyer say that his team is going to be extremely aggressive on the pitching front this offseason, a lot of fans have the we won't believe until we see it mindset. To their credit, that is understandable, but when you look at all the moves the Cubs have made thus far in the offseason, all of them revolve around the pitching front in some way.
Taking the minor league signings out of the picture, the Cubs brought back Colin Rea on a new two-year modified deal, while Shota Imanaga just accepted the Cubs' qualifying offer. The Imanaga contract makes things interesting, as it comes with a 22-million-dollar price tag. The fear with that would be that the Cubs don't push the starting pitching market as aggressively for another high-impact arm unless they plan to hit the trade market. The trade market seems the likely direction for right now, but don't put it past the Cubs to add another free agent arm or two on a cheaper contract. If that is the direction the team is looking, Korea may not be a bad place to start, as they, too, will have several free agents hitting the market in search of an MLB contract. Not nearly at the level that the NPB stars are, any one of these additions will come with intrigue, which is all you can ask for at this point.
Of all the potential KBO targets this offseason, Ponce is the most notable name, as he already has some big-league experience under his belt. The now 31-year-old had a rough start to his MLB career, but since moving to the KBO, he has emerged as one of the best arms, leading people to believe he may have figured some things out. Initially, someone who sat around 94 with his heater, Ponce has gained a few ticks and now averages closer to 96 MPH. That alone helped him go 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA, both league-best numbers. He also added 252 strikeouts during that time, putting together one of the best KBO seasons for a pitcher in recent memory. Given his experience both as a starter and a reliever, Ponce should get plenty of starting pitcher offers this season, especially considering the season he is coming off and the run he just had. At worst, he could be another Rea-type pitcher, someone who does all the little things well.
If it weren't for Ponce's history-making season last year, Anderson would be the one stealing the headlines. The now 32-year-old is coming off a dominating season of his own, during which he logged 245 strikeouts. Another pitcher with former MLB experience, Anderson was a reliever in the Tigers organization as recently as 2024, so he hasn't been that far removed from that season. Despite that, his performance as a starter overseas could open the door for more MLB opportunities that he may not have had before.
The youngest of the potential KBO arms, Jurado is still a bit older, as he will be pitching in his age-30 season in 2026. Another former MLB arm, Jurado, was with the Texas Rangers in 2019 but didn't have a high strikeout rate, which led him to try out the KBO. Unfortunately for him, that hasn't changed since making the move, as his strikeout rate has slightly increased from his MLB days, but is still considered down for KBO arms. On the flip side, Jurado has proven his durability by increasing his innings each year, reaching 197 1/3 in 2025. Depending on how his international free agency unfolds, Jurado could have a role on Team Panama’s pitching staff at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Potential KBO arms aren't the only players to keep tabs on in the coming weeks, as there are some available hitters who the Cubs could look at as potential depth pieces.
The first of the group is 26-year-old Baek-Ho Kang from the KT Wiz. Primarily a DH who fits well into the Cubs lineup, Kang also plays catcher, so you would essentially be adding another Moises Ballesteros if this were the route they chose to go. What stands out about Kang is not only that he is a left-handed hitter, but also that he has tons of power, as he was one of the top power hitters in the KBO from 2018-2021 before cooling off a bit in the past few seasons. Injuries have played a role in that, but with an .825 OPS this past season, some teams could look at him as a DH option, and the Cubs could be one.
Arguably, one of the Cubs' biggest weaknesses in 2025 was their bench's lack of production. That is where the 29-year-old Song could come into play, as his extensive experience as both a third and second basemen could make him one of the more coveted Utility options. It took him a little while to settle in as a player, mainly due to his Utility role, but this past season was the first time he was trusted as an everyday option, and boy, did he deliver. Song finished 2025 with a .917 OPS along with career highs in home runs (26) and games played (144). That type of production is worth noting, as he proved he could handle an everyday role, making him a potential Wild Card pickup.
Of all the names mentioned, the 29-year-old Diaz is the least likely player to be posted, and it's not for lack of production. Diaz is a long-time former big leaguer, suiting up at first for the Miami Marlins for several seasons. Always known for his power potential with several Minor League seasons near 30 homers, but that success never translated into MLB success, last playing an MLB game in 2022. Since then, Diaz has exploded on the KBO circuit and became the first import player with a 50-homer season in KBO. While Díaz could return to the Majors as a free agent, as Eric Thames did in 2017 after posting similar numbers, he’s likely to receive a more lucrative guarantee by remaining in Korea with the Lions or another KBO club.Cody Ponce (RHP Hanwha Eagles)
Drew Anderson (RHP SSG Landers)
Ariel Jurado (RHP Samsung Lions)
Baek-Ho Kang
Sung-Mun Song (3B/2B Kiwoom Heroes)
Lewin Diaz (1B Samsung Lions)
