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*** Official 2025 Chicago Cubs Thread***

Name to watch out for: Kazuma Okamoto

Hitting profile similar to Seiya. Would platoon Busch at 1B and is a solid 3B. I’d say cost wise he’ll be around Suarez price.
 
cycloneman003 said:
IMO the realistic path to improving the team this offseason (assuming Tucker is gone) is upgrade 3B, add front end SP and then a bullpen to rebuild.

3B - Bregman is available again, Suarez as shorter term add with serious right handed pop, Murakami coming over from Japan as a possible fit too. All this could push Shaw to a "super-utility" type role and competition is a good thing to get the best out of him.

SP - I'm assuming Cubs won't pick up the Shota option, 3yr/$57mil just seems steep right now for him. Steele back and Horton feel like front of the rotation guys you'd trust in the postseason. Boyd/Taillon locked into roles. I think there are multitude of FA/trade options to add another high end arm

RP - Jed just refuses to spend money here but they absolutely need to make moves here. Rea option will be picked up and he'll be that swing man (along with Assad). Don't see them picking up a $9mil option for Kittredge. Palencia is the only trusted arm from the postseason that is for sure back. Keller/Thielbar/Pomeranz all will be FA's. They have to get this area of the roster right.
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I like Shaw but his ceiling is not very high. Is he even capable of hitting 30 home runs? We should go after Suarez if he is available.
 
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cyfan92 said:
Horton, Steele, Boyd, and Imanaga is a really good base for 2026's rotation.. Just need guys to stay relatively healthy!

1B: Busch (Thoughts on a long-term extension here, with a couple years of remaining control?)
2B: Nico
SS: Swanson
3B: Shaw (bad postseason but good post all-star break.. Let's build off the latter), ideally have a utility guy just in case
DH: Tucker (2-5 year deal and big dollars.. No long term madness please)
LF: Happ (Expect a big year as it's a contract year for Ian). Would love an upgrade, but that depends on Ricketts..
CF: PCA
RF: Suzuki

I expect Tom Ricketts and family to cheap out again and not deliver us a great bullpen, despite how good the Cubs COULD be...
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That staff plus Taillon & Rea is a good start because it wouldn't surprise me if Steele isn't ready until June/July. But it's just OK if there isn't another power arm in the starting 5/6.

Would also hope Cubs add stud closer and use Keller & Palencia as setup guys and spot closers.

The lineup needs some creativity by Hoyer in the off season. Just too many streaky at bats to expect things to change. I like Tucker at the right price & contract length. Just don't think a player who is a .270 hitter with 30HR's is more than $30M AAV. Also don't think Tucker is the Alpha is a NLCS level team. IMO Tucker is the 2nd dude.

Would prefer Cubs give Ballesteros a shot at DH. Maybe he splits with proven FA hitter, just in case Ballesteros struggles like Shaw did first half. Also be nice if Cubs could find a utility IF who can play 1st & 3rd.
 
Pharmacy99 said:
I like Shaw but his ceiling is not very high. Is he even capable of hitting 30 home runs? We should go after Suarez if he is available.
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The best version of Shaw is a .275 hitter who hits 20 HR's & 35 Doubles. That's enough slug for a 3B if Shaw can get there.

I'd rather have Tucker than Suarez. IMO Suarez' 49HR's is an outlier- from 21-24 Suarez' best HR year was 31 (2x).
 
isucy86 said:
The best version of Shaw is a .275 hitter who hits 20 HR's & 35 Doubles. That's enough slug for a 3B if Shaw can get there.

I'd rather have Tucker than Suarez. IMO Suarez' 49HR's is an outlier- from 21-24 Suarez' best HR year was 31 (2x).
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Suarez will be much cheaper than Tucker.
 
Pharmacy99 said:
Suarez will be much cheaper than Tucker.
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Still like Shaw's ability to produce more over the next 3-4 years. IMO if the Cubs are going to spend on a bat, the guy needs to be elite- not shrink in the big moment. High average, high obp 40+ HR potential. Basically, Schwarber or Alonzo at DH.

Otherwise I would rather sign a solid OF (Gurriel, Badar, Laureano) bat to be swing OF/DH and spend the money on:
  1. #1/2 starter with a power arm
  2. Flame throwing closer
  3. Better IF bench depth- a guy who can play 2nd/SS and a guy who can play 1B/3B
 
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isucy86 said:
Still like Shaw's ability to produce more over the next 3-4 years. IMO if the Cubs are going to spend on a bat, the guy needs to be elite- not shrink in the big moment. High average, high obp 40+ HR potential. Basically, Schwarber or Alonzo at DH.

Otherwise I would rather sign a solid OF (Gurriel, Badar, Laureano) bat to be swing OF/DH and spend the money on:
  1. #1/2 starter with a power arm
  2. Flame throwing closer
  3. Better IF bench depth- a guy who can play 2nd/SS and a guy who can play 1B/3B
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I agree. I’d rather have Schwarbs or Alonzo if we are going to spend big money on a bat. But I doubt we do. I don’t think we would out bid teams for either of those guys.
 
Shaw has 600 AB’s at AAA and at the MLB level and hit 28 HR’s with 27 SB playing an incredible 3B which is not his natural position. He is the future of the franchise along with Horton and PCA but was put in a tough spot as a rookie this year.
 
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My prediction is the Cubs will end up around $250M in AAV/towards the tax while actually spending around $230M in actual cash spent in 2026.

You can expect around $70M spent this offseason, $50M if Shota is back.
 
I think after some lookie loos the last couple of days my early likes in the offseason would be

1 - Let Shota walk and have $70M to spend.

2 - Sign Omamoto. ($17M) He becomes 1B vs. LHP, 3B everywhere else. Shaw becomes utility INF.
- This allows MoBaller to DH vs. RHP, Alcantara to be 4th OF/DH vs. LHP.

3 - Trade Caissie to Miami for Cabrera. Baz from Tampa is an added option.($3M)

4 - Sign Michael King ($20M)

5 - Sign Devin Williams ($10M)

6 - Find your 2 lefty relievers ($5M)

7 - Extend your young core ($15M)
 
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Heyman said he thinks Bregman to the Red Sox is likely, but that he believes Tucker to the Phillies is even more likely.

With the loss of Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez, they certainly have the money for it.
 
ISUCubswin said:
I think after some lookie loos the last couple of days my early likes in the offseason would be

1 - Let Shota walk and have $70M to spend.

2 - Sign Omamoto. ($17M) He becomes 1B vs. LHP, 3B everywhere else. Shaw becomes utility INF.
- This allows MoBaller to DH vs. RHP, Alcantara to be 4th OF/DH vs. LHP.

3 - Trade Caissie to Miami for Cabrera. ($3M)

4 - Sign Michael King ($20M)

5 - Sign Devin Williams ($10M)

6 - Find your 2 lefty relievers ($5M)

7 - Extend your young core ($15M)
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You can't let Shota walk. He's got a player option and there's no way you don't extend a QO if he declines that. He's on the roster next year at the very least.
 
ISUCubswin said:
Heyman said he thinks Bregman to the Red Sox is likely, but that he believes Tucker to the Phillies is even more likely.

With the loss of Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez, they certainly have the money for it.
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They aren't losing Schwarber. He's going to re-sign there on something like 5/$120M.

Tucker is either going to be a Dodger or Phillie though I think Toronto and the Yankees probably make a run at him too. I think the Dodgers are going to have to overpay because he apparently really wants spring in Florida.
 
1UNI2ISU said:
You can't let Shota walk. He's got a player option and there's no way you don't extend a QO if he declines that. He's on the roster next year at the very least.
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There’s no guarantee he’d take QO. It’s likely he’s around but far from a certainty
 
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