Cubs, Justin Steele Avoid Arbitration with $6.775M Salary Agreement

Thursday is the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures for the 2026 season, and the Cubs have only three such players this year. After choosing not to tender contracts to Eli Morgan and Reese McGuire back in December, they were left with only Justin Steele and Javier Assad. Then they traded for Edward Cabrera, who is in his second year of arbitration.

As Patrick Mooney was first to report, the Cubs have agreed with Steele on a $6.775 million salary that is right in line with expectations. The lefty missed most of 2025 due to an elbow injury that required an internal brace repair, but he is expected to return at some point in the first half. Internal brace procedures typically result in much quicker return to play than traditional Tommy John replacement, sometimes as soon as six months, but the Cubs are not going to push Steele.

Cabrera gives them a big arm to pair with Cade Horton and provides more depth to a rotation that will be able to hold its own until Steele returns. With one more year of arbitration remaining before free agency, the Cubs could see an opportunity to work out a team-friendly extension with the veteran southpaw. Steele will turn 31 in August and has only ever been part of the Cubs organization since they chose him in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, plus he’s undergone two elbow procedures now.

It might make sense for both sides to create a little security at a rate that would fall well below what it takes to find a comparable pitcher on the open market. The Cubs obviously know better than anyone how Steele’s rehab is progressing, and he might be willing to punt on free agency for a guaranteed deal that carries him into his mid-30s.

More to come on the other agreements as they’re made.