••• 2026 Official Chicago Cubs Thread •••

[isucy86]

I think the lineup can be fixed by next year for the most part . Swanson only exception.

Amaya/Kelly are productive enough for solid backstops which they are. Only question is how much more can you get out of Kelly.

Busch is gonna come around plus you aren’t paying him yet.

Nico was and is a good investment

Bregman I’d wait a bit before giving up on him.

Happ/Suzuki I think we resign one. Happ you get what you get. Seya had a late start. I think he’s 8 and 20 through 50. He’ll end up 25 and 80

PCA personally I wouldn’t have extended him yet. Probably would of cost more but he still has some development as we all see.

The other outfield spot I hope we retain Conforto. Shaw Ramirez and hopefully Conrad lead the youth movement. One being a long term answer.

Ideal situation Conrad, PCA Shaw becomes our OF of the future. I just don’t see Alcantara ever being a productive player.

Ramirez we need Dansby to somehow go away.

Feel like Cub fans go through this same exercise each year. We go position by position and talk ourselves into this roster just needs some minor tweaks to be successful the next year. I would argue the Cubs will be mediocre until it blows up the roster, to create a new attitude in the clubhouse.

Guys like Happ & Suzuki are nice players, but the Cubs should let both leave in FA and replace with fresh players to the clubhouse. Swanson's tough because of his salary. IMO if Swanson is going to be a .210 or less hitter, then he should platoon and start around 125 games.

Mainly the relief group, but it also applies to the starting rotation- the Cubs needs to add velocity!! Starters 95mph+ and relievers 97mph+. And the Cubs can't rely on FA to add power arms to the Chicago roster. The front office has to make drafting power arms an area of emphasis.

 

[Cyforce]

Feel like Cub fans go through this same exercise each year. We go position by position and talk ourselves into this roster just needs some minor tweaks to be successful the next year. I would argue the Cubs will be mediocre until it blows up the roster, to create a new attitude in the clubhouse.

Guys like Happ & Suzuki are nice players, but the Cubs should let both leave in FA and replace with fresh players to the clubhouse. Swanson's tough because of his salary. IMO if Swanson is going to be a .210 or less hitter, then he should platoon and start around 125 games.

Mainly the relief group, but it also applies to the starting rotation- the Cubs needs to add velocity!! Starters 95mph+ and relievers 97mph+. And the Cubs can't rely on FA to add power arms to the Chicago roster. The front office has to make drafting power arms an area of emphasis.

I didn’t watch much of the game after the GS. But I did here the booth refer to Swanson as an enigma. Said you have to play him for his defense. I’d test that. Play Ramirez for a week straight and see what’s the difference.

As for the rest?
Amaya pre arbitration and a solid catcher
Kelly mutual option $5 mil why wouldn’t you
Busch pre arbitration
Nico and Bregman these are the two they chose to hook their wagons to.
PCA luckily he’s under 11 mil

Happ and Suzuki both 31. No way you bring them both back. But I’d gladly take Seya back for same money.

If the rest of the offense is guys like Shaw Ramirez Conforto and hopefully Conrad soon we can upgrade the starters from Imanaga Boyd and yes Taillon.

We’ve already got a big upgrade at the back of the bullpen that should be good to go next year.

Definitely not confident with this but it’s what we have. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to play anyone because of his contract and the only way you can break a no trade is to bench em. Pride is a big factor here and Swanson should be the test case.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

So you have no desire to sign a big time free agent ever again and piss off the union at the same time? Bold.

I'll also believe that Conrad can be part of the future just as soon as he takes his first professional at bat.

 

[RoseClone]

 

[RoseClone]

 

[BigJCy]

 

[isucy86]

I didn’t watch much of the game after the GS. But I did here the booth refer to Swanson as an enigma. Said you have to play him for his defense. I’d test that. Play Ramirez for a week straight and see what’s the difference.

As for the rest?
Amaya pre arbitration and a solid catcher
Kelly mutual option $5 mil why wouldn’t you
Busch pre arbitration
Nico and Bregman these are the two they chose to hook their wagons to.
PCA luckily he’s under 11 mil

Happ and Suzuki both 31. No way you bring them both back. But I’d gladly take Seya back for same money.

If the rest of the offense is guys like Shaw Ramirez Conforto and hopefully Conrad soon we can upgrade the starters from Imanaga Boyd and yes Taillon.

We’ve already got a big upgrade at the back of the bullpen that should be good to go next year.

Definitely not confident with this but it’s what we have. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to play anyone because of his contract and the only way you can break a no trade is to bench em. Pride is a big factor here and Swanson should be the test case.

Agree about Swanson, even with big salary he has to earn his at bats & starts. Counsell needs to play the guys who can help Cubs win. After all, Swanson's salary is a sunk cost whether he plays or not. And I completely agree that decreasing starts is a way to whittle away at NTC if a guy is underperforming. Ramirez should be getting 2-3 starts a week. Play Shaw at the corner OF spots.

I'll be curious how Conforto plays over balance of season. After hot start he is hitting sub .200 over last 28 games and sub .100 over last 14 games. April Conforto is a keeper, but if he is a .210minus hitter, I'd rather give Alcantara a shot in Chicago. He can play all OF spots, PR and get 100 at bats over a season.

 

[isucy86]

Feel like this was a necessary move as long as Cubs have Rea start. Counsell needs a reliever who can give him 3-4 innings if that days starter struggles early.

 

[RoseClone]

 

[RoseClone]

Bregman crushes a lot of foul balls.

 

[Cyforce]

So you have no desire to sign a big time free agent ever again and piss off the union at the same time? Bold.

I'll also believe that Conrad can be part of the future just as soon as he takes his first professional at bat.

I’d rather add a big time SP. I think the offense needs a better hitting coach. Basically everyone has shown their potential but the consistency/ adjustments are ****.

I’d really like to see us add a coach from Japan. Might be a recruiting edge.

 

[cyatheart]

PCA really has improved his approach. So good. Nice job by Rolison there.

 

[CycloneErik]

We will never lose again!

 

[David Freshman1982]

At least it’s been a breakthrough year for Ben Brown, absolutely love what he’s doing. If he can just build up that stamina some, wow, looking awesome. Sucks that he never pitches deep into games.

PCA, LOL…..dude is a lot of fun, that’s for sure!

 

[Cyforce]

Boyd getting lit up today
So far 4.1
7 hits
5 ER
3 HR

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

Boyd getting lit up today
So far 4.1
7 hits
5 ER
3 HR

Yikes

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

At least it’s been a breakthrough year for Ben Brown, absolutely love what he’s doing. If he can just build up that stamina some, wow, looking awesome. Sucks that he never pitches deep into games.

PCA, LOL…..dude is a lot of fun, that’s for sure!

I mean they are letting him throw high 80s in pitch total. That’s pretty solid and I imagine they trying to not let him blow his arm as he’s our best starter right now. Hope he keeps it up.

 

[Doug Piranha]

PCA is only 24 and is most likely about to put up his 2nd 30-30 season in a row. His ceiling is the HOF. His floor is high just based on his Defense alone. Going to be fun to watch him leadoff for our cubbies for the next 10 years.

 

[CYdTracked]

PCA is only 24 and is most likely about to put up his 2nd 30-30 season in a row. His ceiling is the HOF. His floor is high just based on his Defense alone. Going to be fun to watch him leadoff for our cubbies for the next 10 years.

Moving PCA to the leadoff or 2 hole has really helped his plate discipline (BA/OBP/OBPS):

Batting leadoff: .314/.432/1.003
Batting 2nd: .333/.375/.908

Just in the past 15 days he's hitting .327/.438/1.053 with 4 HR. What is even more crazy is he really struggled against LHP last year but he's hitting .280 against lefties and .230 against righties so far this season.

Wonder if the pressure of being a guy that needs to get on base in the top of the lineup has improved his approach at the plate and when he does get a pitch he likes he's locked in and ready to hammer it. Like Doug mentioned he is only 24 and hasn't even hit his full potential and prime years yet. Still will be some growing pains but we have seen it with PCA throughout his career that when he gets in a slump he makes adjustments and finds his way out of it. The defense will always be elite but he has the tools to be an elite leadoff hitter that also has some power if he's dialed in.

 

[Cyforce]

20ish mil expiring contracts.
Who would you offer a qualifying offer to?

Imanaga. Not eligible as he’s on one.
Boyd. No
Taillon. No
Happ. No
Suzuki. Definitely. One more year to figure out which young guys can stick.