••• 2026 Official Chicago Cubs Thread •••

[ISUCubswin]

Annoying thing about Boyd is that he had 7 K's through 3 innings and blew up in the 4th, which makes me curious if his fun time for a week with Team USA kept him from building up appropriately. Entirely possible he's a week behind being ramped up.

I'm under the impression Cabrera is at the back of the rotation not because that's his quality value, but because they want to limit his load as much as possible to make sure he's ready for October.

Agree in general that Horton should've started. Don't hate that we gave it to Boyd as a hat tip for what he did last year, but if he's going to get it, he can't have a meltdown inning against that poor quality of a team.

 

[CycloneT]

 

[ISUCubswin]

Big time!

I guess we didn't want to go into the 2027 season with multiple positional holes. Now we just have RF and LF and I'm ok with letting Happ get the absolute **** out.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

This surprises me, but I’m definitely okay with it.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I'm hoping we see a Suzuki extension and then Rojas/Shaw/Alcantara battle it out for LF.

 

[CycloneErik]

Big time!

I guess we didn't want to go into the 2027 season with multiple positional holes. Now we just have RF and LF and I'm ok with letting Happ get the absolute **** out.

I used to think it was a bit much with people complaining about Happ, but he's so definitely replaceable. This would be fine with me.

 

[Cyforce]

I'm hoping we see a Suzuki extension and then Rojas/Shaw/Alcantara battle it out for LF.

Conrad may be the favorite in 27.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Big time!

I guess we didn't want to go into the 2027 season with multiple positional holes. Now we just have RF and LF and I'm ok with letting Happ get the absolute **** out.

I'd bet good money that Happ plays on a QO next year. The Cubs have to offer it and he isn't going to approach that AAV.

Plus, he's notoriously saved and invested his money so he doesn't need the longer guarantee.

 

[Cyforce]

I'd bet good money that Happ plays on a QO next year. The Cubs have to offer it and he isn't going to approach that AAV.

Plus, he's notoriously saved and invested his money so he doesn't need the longer guarantee.

I’m not gonna say you’re wrong but I don’t see it. Suzuki should be the next extension I don’t think you risk another Shota situation. Having three big contract in the outfield would strangle the budget. Especially after adding a third big contract in the infield.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I’m not gonna say you’re wrong but I don’t see it. Suzuki should be the next extension I don’t think you risk another Shota situation. Having three big contract in the outfield would strangle the budget. Especially after adding a third big contract in the infield.

PCA is only making $10M next year and a ton of money falls off.

Of course, the new CBA could completely change the system and then this is all a fool's errand.

 

[Cyforce]

PCA is only making $10M next year and a ton of money falls off.

Of course, the new CBA could completely change the system and then this is all a fool's errand.

True, but I look at it this way
PCA and Hoerner extended
Suzuki needs to be extended
Happ?
Taillon?
Imanaga?
Boyd?
Those are the contracts that are freeing up money.
Personally I’d rather look for a true ace to add to Cabrera, Steele, Horton and Wiggins.
My question is don’t you think we can do better than Happ for that type of money?

Conrad is our future in left IMHO. I’d give him a shot out of spring training along wit’s Shaw, Alcantara, and possible others. If we need an add we can do it at the deadline

 

[ISUCubswin]

Tarik Skubal $45M
Justin Steele $12M
Edward Cabrera $8M
Horton - Min
Wiggins - Min

Tarik’s $45M comes as Shota ($22) Taillon ($17) and Boys ($15) come off the books

Get her done.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

True, but I look at it this way
PCA and Hoerner extended
Suzuki needs to be extended
Happ?
Taillon?
Imanaga?
Boyd?
Those are the contracts that are freeing up money.
Personally I’d rather look for a true ace to add to Cabrera, Steele, Horton and Wiggins.
My question is don’t you think we can do better than Happ for that type of money?

Conrad is our future in left IMHO. I’d give him a shot out of spring training along wit’s Shaw, Alcantara, and possible others. If we need an add we can do it at the deadline

I'm really interested in what the plans are for Shaw now. If you're going to trade him, it has to be no later than the deadline this year while his value is at it's highest point. A plus infield defender is also going to be able to handle the outfield just fine so if you really believe in the bat, he's your right fielder on the cheap for the next 5 years. If the plan is Conrad/PCA/Shaw/Kepley for 2028 and beyond, you can absolutely go all in on Skubal.

Jed has somehow given himself a ton of flexibility and no flexibility at all at the same time.

 

[RivClone23]

I'd bet good money that Happ plays on a QO next year. The Cubs have to offer it and he isn't going to approach that AAV.

Plus, he's notoriously saved and invested his money so he doesn't need the longer guarantee.

I do wonder how QO decisions play out with the CBA expiring and the possible lockout.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[RivClone23]

If Happ were any good he would have kept the ball down or hit it at the scoreboard. Bum.

 

[CYdTracked]

True, but I look at it this way
PCA and Hoerner extended
Suzuki needs to be extended
Happ?
Taillon?
Imanaga?
Boyd?
Those are the contracts that are freeing up money.
Personally I’d rather look for a true ace to add to Cabrera, Steele, Horton and Wiggins.
My question is don’t you think we can do better than Happ for that type of money?

Conrad is our future in left IMHO. I’d give him a shot out of spring training along wit’s Shaw, Alcantara, and possible others. If we need an add we can do it at the deadline

My thoughts exactly. For what a QO for Happ would be they could find someone for around that price who has a better bat. If Happ wants to stay it's going to need to be on a team friendly short deal without a no trade clause. I don't see Taillon, Shota, or Boyd being resigned or given QO either. Use that savings to upgrade where needed. There usually are plenty of options in free agency or trade for the OF compared to trying to fill a place like SS or 3B where the options are usually much slimmer on a given year.

Also curious to see what their long term plan for Shaw is now that both Bregman and Nico are signed for the long term. Unless they think he can be a Zobrist type player and fill in all over the field to get regular playing time or maybe can play OF full time else he may have to go on the trade block. There really is not a path for him to play a single position full time going forward unless he can successfully convert to playing OF.

 

[CycloneT]

 

[ISUCubswin]

Currently $100 committed to your offense next year with a need to address 2 COF and a C.

Cap is expected to be in the $260-280 range, if it happens.

I'm going to speak Skubal/Steele/Cabrera/Horton/Wiggins into existence.

 

[Cyforce]

My thoughts exactly. For what a QO for Happ would be they could find someone for around that price who has a better bat. If Happ wants to stay it's going to need to be on a team friendly short deal without a no trade clause. I don't see Taillon, Shota, or Boyd being resigned or given QO either. Use that savings to upgrade where needed. There usually are plenty of options in free agency or trade for the OF compared to trying to fill a place like SS or 3B where the options are usually much slimmer on a given year.

Also curious to see what their long term plan for Shaw is now that both Bregman and Nico are signed for the long term. Unless they think he can be a Zobrist type player and fill in all over the field to get regular playing time or maybe can play OF full time else he may have to go on the trade block. There really is not a path for him to play a single position full time going forward unless he can successfully convert to playing OF.

Definitely on the same page. After you extend Seya the offense is set with a bench full of young controllable guys. It’s a pipe dream but getting Swanson to agree to a trade would be ideal.
That happens we have Shaw and Rojas sharing middle infield beside Hoerner. Then Conrad and Alcantara in left and 4th OF suddenly Skubal is in play. We already added our second closer for next year.