Logically, I agree with you, but with the current ownership and management, the hope for "some big time serious" pitching moves in the offseason is not something I'll hold my breath on. And I'll add that even though the NLDS is admirable at some level, the Cubs lack of fire and execution in the second half, now carried over into the playoffs, is extremely concerning.
*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***
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Logically, I agree with you, but with the current ownership and management, the hope for "some big time serious" pitching moves in the offseason is not something I'll hold my breath on. And I'll add that even though the NLDS is admirable at some level, the Cubs lack of fire and execution in the second half, now carried over into the playoffs, is extremely concerning.
I wouldn’t be overly sad about it. He seems broken. Hasn’t been right since his injury. Lost a lot of velocity. Can’t imagine the cubs pick up his contract. Shota probably will hit the open market.
I believe Shota is owed $20.5M if we accept his option. If we decline, he can exercise for $15M. If he declines, we can offer a QO for $22M.
Honestly, a QO may be the way to go. If he accepts, it’s just one more year for $1.5M more. If he declines, you get a top draft pick.
Honestly, a QO may be the way to go. If he accepts, it’s just one more year for $1.5M more. If he declines, you get a top draft pick.
Seems to me the FO had a solid plan to create a really good defensive team that would slug some but would otherwise rely on situational hitting and running. The flaw in logic appears to be that they forgot how hard it is to field a ball hit 40 feet into the stands.
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I'd be shocked if that is true. I think they pick up his option as it's not unreasonable money for what he's done over the past 2 seasons. Yeah the longball in early innings really bit him lately but the bulk of the work he's done is probably enough to justify picking up the option for 2 more years at that price. If he hits the free agency market he would probably get at least that I bet. Just have to hope he can work on some things in the offseason to improve on the early inning struggles.
It's become pretty clear that focusing on pitching in the offseason should be the priority. Not sure trying to resign Tucker is necessary unless it's a short deal with some opt outs. I realize injuries probably had a lot to do with his 2nd half swoon but the money it may take could be used on pitching instead as we have OF prospects in the organization ready for a chance. Not even sure it's worth it to take a shot at Schwarber either as he's probably boosted his market value with the big season he had and he's pretty much just a DH at this point too.
There are going to be some good arms to look at in free agency. Not all are #1 starters but would be upgrades and solid guys to have in the top end of the rotation with Steele and Horton and push Shota down the rotation further.
Framber Valdez
Michael King
Dylan Cease
Ranger Suarez
Merrill Kelly
Shane Bieber (has a player option)
probably a few other notable pitchers could hit the market if options are declined too
The plus is the Cubs go back to Wrigley. Home field matters. Big difference than Phillies who lost 2 at home.
Feel like this series should just reiterate to Cubs FO a few things:
Feel like this series should just reiterate to Cubs FO a few things:
- Velocity matters. In 2026 the Cubs can't role out a rotation of 1 starter who throws 95+. So they need to sign, trade for or promote a couple flamethrowers. That means they should only keep 3 among: Imanaga, Boyd, Taillon, Steele, Rea. Maybe only 2 if they feel Assad, Soroko, Brown or Civale can provide a 5th starter & 2 long relievers among the group.
- The Cubs need more professional hitters. Guys who don't shrink in the moment. The Cubs might have 3 in Horner, Busch and Suzuki. I rather have guys like Harrison Bader than Tucker.
- Palencia & Keller are nice relief pitchers- but Cubs need a closer opponents fear. It's about velocity and filthy stuff outside the fastball. Plus a stud reliever is just as valuable as a stud starter, but cheaper. Thinking Mason Miller vs. Paul Skenes
Rea closed the game ge
tting 10 outs not surrendering a run I hate how stubborn Council is. Especially when the obvious is right in front of him.
Yea, what was that from PCA. He leaps into the wall, falls to the ground and it was a 450 foot HR.
He might be believing the hype. But he ain't Superman
I'd be shocked. Pitching has gotten so expensive that 3/57 for a back end guy that's going to eat innings is a slightly under-market deal at this point plus ol' Tommy isn't giving up the sponsorship dollars from Japan.
Related but unrelated, it's time to look at extending Seiya.
Picking up Rea's option at $6 mil is a no brainer. Don't even need to use him in the rotation but having him as a swingman to cover long innings or a spot start at that price is a huge value. That was the role he was supposed to have this season but injuries forced him to be in the rotation most of the year. Does Assad still have minor league options left for next year? If so he's just a cheap depth piece that you can never have enough starting pitching depth as we have found out lately. If they do go out and sign or trade for a top end SP then Boyd or Taillon probably has to be traded if Steele is healthy to start the season. My fear though is the FO is just going to say we are fine if everyone is healthy, we have Steele, Horton, Shota, Taillon, and Boyd plus some depth pieces in Rea and Assad so we will be just fine if all those guys are healthy. The wise thing to do is realize you need to upgrade 1 spot in the rotation and there will likely be an injury or 2 along the way that will hurt the pitching depth.
Don't care what they do with Soroko and Civale. If they come back on cheap 1 year deals fine but they won't make or break the bullpen. The big question is do you pick up Kittredge's $9 mil option which I think you may as well because right now there is no other money committed to the bullpen for 2026 other than arbitration and pre-arb pitchers. I'd love to bring Keller back but he's probably going to garner some decent offers as well as he has pitched out of the bullpen this year. I do agree getting a proven stud closer should be on the shopping list too. If not in free agency use some prospect capital to trade for one.
Brown needs to work hard in the offseason at finding another pitch to add to his limited arsenal. I don't trust him in any role at the moment till he can prove he can command the strike zone and get outs more consistently. I'm done with Wicks too, would be fine if they included him in part of a trade in the offseason.
Need to figure out what is the philosophy with the offense going forward and then make the moves to achieve that. I've said it many times, if anyone on this roster should be extended it's Nico and they should do it now before he hits free agency. Busch looks like a long term piece, no if Craig would just let him learn to hit left handed pitching once in awhile instead of using kid gloves with him. While PCA, Swanson, and Shaw have been solid defensively it's been painfully clear when we hit the bottom end of the batting order we can't seem to generate offense. Swanson is not terrible, still hit 24 HR this year but just doesn't seem to get hits with guys on base. PCA and Shaw are still young and have room to improve but we just lack some guys in the lineup that know how to get hits when they count. We'll see if they can find a way to maybe get Happ to waive his NTC as OF really is the only opportunity to bring in someone significant. The infield is pretty set at this point unless you decide to go a completely different direction and trade 1 of them.
We're more likely to extend Happ than trade him.
I get that he's the whipping boy but 4 WAR guys don't grow on trees and remember the vast majority of that WAR is offensive because he gets penalized big time for playing LF.
I get that he's the whipping boy but 4 WAR guys don't grow on trees and remember the vast majority of that WAR is offensive because he gets penalized big time for playing LF.
With this day off someone may have to talk Craig out of throwing Boyd against tomorrow.
Should have saved Rea for game 3 but the biggest mistake was not pitching him in game 1. It has to be Taillon at this point.
Yeah, but on some level that’s on the players. It was crazy to hear so many people saying things like “the players didn’t get the jolt that other teams did when they got (insert name/ deadline addition)”. It’s almost akin to how we treat kids. “Well they didn’t do what they were supposed to do because you didn’t provide them with enough positive reinforcement/didn’t give them enough new experiences to stimulate their brains”.
Sorry for the lack of coddling I guess? I thought maybe tens of millions and the prospects of a World Series championship would be enough…?
I kind of like the fact that TJ doesn’t coach like that. He wants players that will work…and rewards them with playing time. And if they don’t…they don’t deserve to be in Hilton.
Happ is an OK player in isolation, but the Cubs seem to have a starting lineup dominated by Happs. Streaky hitters who shrink in the big moment.
Guys like Happ, Suzuki, Swanson & Kelly are nice players but need to be batting in the 6/7/8/ or 9 spots. Not in the top of the lineup. Part of the roster construction problem, at this point in their careers guys like Shaw and PCA are better suited to also bat outside the top 5 in an deep run playoff roster. That might be a harsh statement on PCA, but his eye is terrible at this point.
The front office will need to make some tough decisions this winter, but they need to re-tool the top 5 spots in the lineup. Horner and Busch are the only guys who fill those roles today. Maybe Tucker as well, but not at the price being mentioned.
As a Brewers fan, that moment was perfect and I laughed aloud.
