Justin Steele contract extension may not be a priority for the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs may hold off on extending pitcher Justin Steele’s contract this offseason, despite him being eligible for arbitration. Although the Cubs recently extended Nico Hoerner before his arbitration, a similar move for Steele might not be a priority right now. Analysts believe that while a potential extension for Steele could be a five-year deal, the Cubs might delay talks until Spring Training. The reason is that the team is expected to pursue a top-tier starting pitcher this offseason, potentially someone like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried. Given their control over Steele until 2027, and with other pitching prospects coming up, the Cubs may prioritize acquiring an established pitcher instead of focusing on Steele’s contract at this moment.