Cubs' Offseason Plans Won't Mirror 2021 Disaster, Despite Key Player Contracts Up for grabs
The Chicago Cubs are poised to navigate the upcoming offseason with a more nuanced approach than their chaotic experience four years ago. With several key players set to hit free agency after the 2026 season, including Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Jameson Taillon, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer is signaling that the team will remain active in pursuing reinforcements.
Hoyer emphasized that the Cubs are committed to building on their playoff appearance this past season, but acknowledged that "you try to figure out what are the best ways to fill our holes" and add depth. The process, he noted, takes into account the entire team's picture, including the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The end of the 2022-26 CBA is a point of conversation among team officials, with some speculating that it could impact the offseason market or even lead to a salary cap. However, Hoyer remained tight-lipped about the Cubs' budget this offseason, deferring to chairman Tom Ricketts' assertion that revenue from the previous season dictates the baseball budget.
One area where the Cubs do have an advantage is in their young core, which has established itself as a strong contributor group. Players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Matt Shaw, Cade Horton, and Daniel Palencia are making significant impacts at the major league level. If Miguel Amaya can stay healthy, he's poised to be the primary catcher.
General Manager Carter Hawkins expressed confidence in the Cubs' development process, stating that they're "continually getting new guys coming up and impacting the major leagues." The team is expected to engage several players in extension conversations, with position-player prospects Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcantara ready to build off their first taste of the big leagues.
While the Cubs face uncertainty ahead, it's clear that they're approaching the offseason with a more measured approach than they did four years ago. The key differences boil down to timing, player development, and financial picture – factors that suggest this team is building for the long haul rather than taking a drastic rebuild path.
The Chicago Cubs are poised to navigate the upcoming offseason with a more nuanced approach than their chaotic experience four years ago. With several key players set to hit free agency after the 2026 season, including Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Jameson Taillon, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer is signaling that the team will remain active in pursuing reinforcements.
Hoyer emphasized that the Cubs are committed to building on their playoff appearance this past season, but acknowledged that "you try to figure out what are the best ways to fill our holes" and add depth. The process, he noted, takes into account the entire team's picture, including the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The end of the 2022-26 CBA is a point of conversation among team officials, with some speculating that it could impact the offseason market or even lead to a salary cap. However, Hoyer remained tight-lipped about the Cubs' budget this offseason, deferring to chairman Tom Ricketts' assertion that revenue from the previous season dictates the baseball budget.
One area where the Cubs do have an advantage is in their young core, which has established itself as a strong contributor group. Players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Matt Shaw, Cade Horton, and Daniel Palencia are making significant impacts at the major league level. If Miguel Amaya can stay healthy, he's poised to be the primary catcher.
General Manager Carter Hawkins expressed confidence in the Cubs' development process, stating that they're "continually getting new guys coming up and impacting the major leagues." The team is expected to engage several players in extension conversations, with position-player prospects Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcantara ready to build off their first taste of the big leagues.
While the Cubs face uncertainty ahead, it's clear that they're approaching the offseason with a more measured approach than they did four years ago. The key differences boil down to timing, player development, and financial picture – factors that suggest this team is building for the long haul rather than taking a drastic rebuild path.
! They've got an awesome young core coming through, and I love how they're focusing on building from within 
. It's like, we all know that trying to trade our way to the top can be super sketchy... like, have you seen those crazy contracts? 
, but I think Jed Hoyer and the gang are on the right track. They're being smart about it, taking their time to figure out what's best for the team... and that's, like, totally cool 
.
. I mean, rebuilding can be fun, but sometimes you just gotta take your sweet time and let those young bucks develop 
. So, fingers crossed for the Cubs this offseason! 
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I'm loving how the Cubs are taking a more thoughtful approach to the offseason 
! It's awesome to see President Jed Hoyer prioritizing the entire team's picture when making decisions, considering factors like the expiring CBA 
. The fact that they're focusing on building on last season's playoff appearance rather than trying to rush into drastic changes is a huge positive sign for fans 
. And let's be real, having a strong young core with players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya making impacts at the major league level 
is exactly what you need to build towards long-term success 
. Hoyer's cautious approach makes sense, especially with the CBA ending soon. It's about time they stopped making reckless moves and started focusing on developing their young core 
. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch are solid players, and if Miguel Amaya can stay healthy, that's a catch-22 right there 
. At least the Cubs aren't trying to rehash last year's disaster 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out; fingers crossed they make some smart moves 
. It's all about finding that sweet spot between adding depth and not breaking the bank 
. With a young core like theirs, they're definitely in a good place to build from within 
. Every year it's 'we're not rebuilding' but then we're making moves that just prolong the rebuild. The Cubs are trying to be all smart and nuanced with their approach, but at the end of the day, they're still gonna try to compete for a championship every year. It's like Jed Hoyer is playing both sides - saying one thing about being focused on development, but then they go out and make big moves that just give them more ammo to throw at teams when it comes time to negotiate trades. And what's up with the CBA situation? If there's even a chance of a salary cap, that changes everything. It's like they're keeping their cards close to their chest on purpose...
and i love that jed hoyer is keeping a low profile about the budget this offseason 
but seriously can we talk about how amazing it is that pete crow-armstrong is killing it out there 
and mignolo ballesteros is getting all the attention, but owen caissie is like my spirit animal 
they're all so talented and i just know we're gonna see great things from this young core 
. With their young core coming up huge, I'm all for them making smart moves to add depth without breaking the bank 