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*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

In the end, we probably got about as far as this team was capable. The pitching was on its last leg and when you're banking on Colin Rae to throw 3 innings in a win or go home game, you probably aren't one of the best teams in baseball.

Pitching and going into the season with Gage Workman and Justin Turner as your 3B depth were the two biggest disasters from our FO.
 
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Clark said:
The last sentence is the problem. I've said all summer that if they didn't bring Tucker back i was done with this team until ownership charges. That had little to do with the player. I just want them to show they're serious about putting a great team on the field. I suppose if they spend that money on someone else I'll give them a shot.

We all know what's going to happen though, they'll tell their media cronies that they put a "competitive offer" in for Tucker but didn't want to overpay and instead went back to the bargain bin to fill out the roster.
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If I had to put money on it I'd say Owen Cassie is our opening day starter in RF. I could see a similar situation like Shaw this year though where he looks lost at the plate until he gets used to MLB pitching.

The other option would be to let Suzuki play the field again and roll with Moises as the full time DH and emergency catcher.
 
Below is what I like to use for offseason prep. Salary figures are based on AAV to show the tax, not what they will be getting paid in 2026. Numbers are based off Spotrac or MLB Trade Rumors arbitration predictions.

Blue is arbitration decision, Red is team option. If you decline all options, you're looking at around $95M to spend. In talking with some people who I think have sources, I do believe the Ricketts are more open to going over the $244 tax this year than they have been in years past.
 

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ISUCubswin said:
In the end, we probably got about as far as this team was capable. The pitching was on its last leg and when you're banking on Colin Rae to throw 3 innings in a win or go home game, you probably aren't one of the best teams in baseball.

Pitching and going into the season with Gage Workman and Justin Turner as your 3B depth were the two biggest disasters from our FO.
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I was at an I-Cubs game a couple weeks ago and Workman was starting at 3rd for Toledo I think and batting about .220.

Not sure what the front office saw in him to put him on the opening day roster.
 
NoCreativity said:
Now that we've had a night to sleep on that ****fest what's everyone's expectations for next year?

Pitching should be solid. I think you Shota will be back so you hsve a rotation of Shota, Steele, Cade, Taillon, and Boyd. Hopefully Rea will be back then you use him and Assad to spot start and eat innings.

Bullpen we'll at least have Palencia back. I'm concerned though Pomeranz, Keller, and Theilebar will get better offers elsewhere. Porter Hodge will be someone to keep an eye on as he was really good in 2024 and injured off and on this year.

We should be elite on D again. We have 2 budding superstars in PCA, and Busch. Tucker will be gone and it will be difficult to replace a guy with that kind of OPS. I think Suzuki, Kelly, and Dansby regress at the plate next year. I think the bench will be completely revamped. No more Turner, Castro, or Santana. Not sure where Moises fits into all this either as Amaya should be fully healthy again.

Pitching should be solid but I'm really concerned with what this offense will look like without Tucker. I'm thinking maybe 86 wins and another wildcard series.
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Agree....pitching should be fine, prob need to find some bullpen arms. Unfortunately it seems the lineup is pretty set ex Cassie for Tucker. but we do get Amaya back which is badly needed.

Would really be nice to move Happ to 8th or 9th since we can't trade him, but maybe a contract year he will lock in a bit more.
 
Clonefan32 said:
You just can’t afford this many guys who hit .200. Nico is literally the only guy who can hit for average. Going to require a philosophical change away from prioritizing power, which just has not worked.
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I agree with this and, more generally, the disappointment of last night. But the team was actually one of the best in baseball, recordwise and end result, losing 3 games to 2 to the team with the best record in the regular season in a series to get to the nlcs.
 
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NoCreativity said:
Now that we've had a night to sleep on that ****fest what's everyone's expectations for next year?

Pitching should be solid. I think you Shota will be back so you hsve a rotation of Shota, Steele, Cade, Taillon, and Boyd. Hopefully Rea will be back then you use him and Assad to spot start and eat innings.

Bullpen we'll at least have Palencia back. I'm concerned though Pomeranz, Keller, and Theilebar will get better offers elsewhere. Porter Hodge will be someone to keep an eye on as he was really good in 2024 and injured off and on this year.

We should be elite on D again. We have 2 budding superstars in PCA, and Busch. Tucker will be gone and it will be difficult to replace a guy with that kind of OPS. I think Suzuki, Kelly, and Dansby regress at the plate next year. I think the bench will be completely revamped. No more Turner, Castro, or Santana. Not sure where Moises fits into all this either as Amaya should be fully healthy again.

Pitching should be solid but I'm really concerned with what this offense will look like without Tucker. I'm thinking maybe 86 wins and another wildcard series.
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This is pretty solid. I’m not as concerned without Tucker because Seiya plays a competent RF and you can get Cassie more ABs. I think Ballesteros can be a solid power PH next year. If Busch, PCA, and Shaw can take steps forward offensively, that’s a division winning potential roster.

I’d rather go out and get another Nico-type player who hits for average than power. We have enough HR or bust guys on the roster.
 
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When is Steele suppose to be back next season? Beginning of the season or more like All-Star break?
 
I think pitching becomes a pretty big priority and is a very easy area to raise the ceiling.

My moves?

Let Shota and Kittredge walk, which saves $22M. Sign Michael King, trade for Cabrera, and you hardly put a dent into the money you had going into the offseason.

6 man rotation to start the year - Horton, Boyd, King, Cabrera, Taillon, Steele.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Speculation was mid-summer but Sharma said last week that they're thinking he'll be ready by season opener.
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Id make it a priority to bring back Rea. Then if Steele needs a couple months to ramp up it wouldn't be an issue. We could start Rea and Assad and then maybe have Steele fully healthy by July.
 
NoCreativity said:
Id make it a priority to bring back Rea. Then if Steele needs a couple months to ramp up it wouldn't be an issue. We could start Rea and Assad and then maybe have Steele fully healthy by July.
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Rea is a $6M club option. Safe to assume he'll be back.

It would be an abject failure of this front office if you enter the season with Rea and/or Assad being in your starting rotation.
 
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One thing that struck me was how connected the brewers are. They are having fun and playing loose, but very accountable and uplifting for their teammates.

I don’t see this with the cubs at all.
 
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ISUCubswin said:
Rea is a $6M club option. Safe to assume he'll be back.

It would be an abject failure of this front office if you enter the season with Rea and/or Assad being in your starting rotation.
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There's nothing wrong with either one of them as a 5th starter. I'm not sure what you're expecting to be better about the 5th rotation spot.
 
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Tommy isn't allowing any spending this winter. He's making sure there's a lockout and he's not going to lose more money than he has to.

Opening Day payroll is going to be less than this year and outside of a possible pillow contract for somebody, they aren't making any significant moves. They'll gladly take the draft pick after they 'finish 2nd on Tucker', they aren't paying Keller, I'd guess they'll pick up the Rea and Kitteridge options. Shota is a coin flip.

Competitiveness next year depends completely and totally on Brewer regression and what progress Cincinnati makes.
 
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NoCreativity said:
There's nothing wrong with either one of them as a 5th starter. I'm not sure what you're expecting to be better about the 5th rotation spot.
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Well there's a few concerns with this. Assad wasn't good enough to be on the playoff roster. Shota wasn't good enough to pitch in a win or go home game. And Rea shouldn't ever be pitching 3 innings in a win or go home game.

If you're going to be serious about raising the ceiling next year, you will add 1-2 TOR arms this offseason to go with the 1-2 TOR arms you have.
 
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ISUCubswin said:
Well there's a few concerns with this. Assad wasn't good enough to be on the playoff roster. Shota wasn't good enough to pitch in a win or go home game. And Rea shouldn't ever be pitching 3 innings in a win or go home game.

If you're going to be serious about raising the ceiling next year, you will add 1-2 TOR arms this offseason to go with the 1-2 TOR arms you have.
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I dont know why people are so down on Assad. We don't know if he was full healthy down the stretch and prior to this year hes been one of the most consistent pitchers in the organization.

I think there was a stretch there for about a year until mid 2024 where he had the lowest ERA in the NL.
 
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