Well, that was brutal. The Cubs gave us hope tying the game in the ninth inning and sending it to extras, but then came the eleventh—where everything completely fell apart. The San Francisco Giants dropped nine runs, eight of them earned, all off Ryan Pressly. It wasn’t just a loss—it was a loud reminder that this team still has a gaping hole in the bullpen. They need a top-notch closer. No question.
But nope, that’s not what we’re going to discuss today.
Instead, let’s talk about the rotation. Or more specifically, the way the top of the rotation is falling apart. After Shota Imanaga’s start on Sunday, where he exited in the sixth with a strained left hamstring, things have gotten pretty dicey. With Justin Steele already ruled out for the season, fans on the radio and social media have started throwing out names—one in particular keeps popping up: Trevor Bauer.
There’s a reason no MLB team has signed Trevor Bauer since 2021—and it’s not the off-the-field issues he previously had. Even before those serious allegations surfaced, Bauer had already built a reputation as a bad clubhouse presence. Multiple former teammates across different teams have said he’s a nightmare to play with.
We’re not talking about one or two former teammates of his describing him as toxic, divisive, and constantly making everything about himself. When he was in Cleveland, there were stories of teammates trying to steer clear of him. In Cincinnati, even during his Cy Young season, guys didn’t seem to celebrate his success. And when he got to the Dodgers? It got even more awkward. Players weren’t exactly thrilled he was there—and that was before the legal trouble started.
Baseball clubhouses run on chemistry and trust. When a guy repeatedly causes tension and alienates teammates, that reputation follows him. And that’s what’s happened with Bauer. He’s burned too many bridges.
Right now, the Cubs are trying to build a clubhouse led by guys like Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ. They’ve got young pitchers coming up who need support and a good environment—not someone known for disrupting that.
Losing Imanaga—even temporarily—is a gut punch. The guy has been one of the biggest bright spots since the the Cubs signed him going into last season, and now they are on pace to win 85+ games thanks to their beastly offense.
The initial reaction, of course, was panic. “How long is he going to be out?”
But here’s the thing: this isn’t the kind of injury you rush back from—especially not for a guy who’s only pitched one season in the Major Leagues. The smarter play, as much as it hurts to say, might be to shut him down for a full month, or even slightly longer, if that’s what it takes to protect his future.
Remember, Imanaga’s came from Japan, where the season is shorter, the schedule’s more forgiving, and pitchers don’t usually throw 100+ innings before August. By the time he hit that mark with the Cubs this year, he was already in uncharted territory. That matters. Fatigue builds up in ways that don’t always show up right away, and soft-tissue injuries—like a hamstring strain—are often the first sign that the body’s reaching a more delicate territory. Especially considering according to many reports Imanaga has never suffered any lower body injuries. This guy is signed through 2027, with a club option for 2028. Rushing him back would be short-sighted.
So what are the Cubs doing instead? They made a move that feels quiet but could prove smart: selecting the contract of Chris Flexen.
Now, is Flexen going to come in and be a top-of-the-rotation guy? No. Let’s not kid ourselves. But he’s got Major League experience, he knows how to eat innings, and more importantly, he buys time—time that gives the front office breathing room to not rush Cade Horton.
And look, a lot of Cubs fans including me are itching to see Horton. He was our first-round pick in 2022, he’s electric like Kerry Wood was back in 1998, and every time he’s pitched in the minors, he’s looked like a guy who’s not far from being ready. But “not far” doesn’t mean now. Throwing him into the big leagues in a high pressure situation where he would need to eat innings until Imanaga returns would be a horrible idea.
Horton is only 22. He started the year at Triple-A Iowa, and has been solid going 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA, 33 Ks, and a 0.86 WHIP in 29 innings pitched. But there are still things he’s working on such as fastball command, sequencing, and dealing with experienced hitters who don’t chase the same way Double-A hitters do. These are the kinds of adjustments that take time—and Triple-A is the right place to make them, without the pressure of trying to save a big-league rotation during the early stages of the season.
Plus, let’s not forget what rushing pitching prospects can do. We’ve seen too many young arms—on the Cubs and across the league—get pushed up too fast, only to struggle, lose confidence, or worse, get hurt. Giving Horton another few weeks to work on his craft, while letting Flexen take Imanaga’s spot is the kind of low-key roster move that might pay off later.
Also, there’s a business side to this too. Selecting Flexen’s contract doesn’t cost the Cubs any top-tier prospects. It doesn’t force them to DFA someone they value long-term. It’s a simple, flexible move that allows them to stay afloat while the pitching staff is in flux and might even allow them to have trade bait if he pitches well to help beef up the bullpen later this season without having to trade prospects.
It is very likely according to many reports that Horton gets called up sometime before mid-June—especially if the Cubs are still in the hunt and another injury pops up. But for now, holding off on him is the right call. Let the kid build his innings. There’s no need to throw him into the fire just because we’re without our top two starters, and therefore desperate.
Here’s the thing, folks: Imanaga’s injury is just a setback, for sure, but if the Cubs are smart—and so far they’re showing that they are—they’ll prioritize his long-term health over the urge to plug him right back in. A healthy Imanaga in 2025 and beyond is worth way more than a rushed return that ends up doing more harm than good.
With that… Yeah, it’s frustrating. Losing your top starter following the ace of your staff getting injured always would be. But between Chris Flexen filling in as a started and Cade Horton continuing to develop, this doesn’t have to be a disaster. It’s just another test of roster depth, planning, and patience—three things this front office has quietly been pretty good at the last couple seasons.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!