Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd declined his end of a mutual option and will become a free agent.

Boyd had a $15 million mutual option for 2027 but decided to decline it in the hopes of landing a multi-year deal before a potential lockout impacts the MLB salary structure. Boyd was limited to 126 2/3 innings this season due to injury, but he registered a 3.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 18.5 percent strikeout rate. He figures to have a good deal of interest given his experience and solid production over the last three seasons. The Cubs have now seen Boyd, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson all become free agents, so they will need to rebuild an entire rotation.