Hoyer is in a no-win situation. After 4 years of underperforming, people clamor for change and say Theo held onto to players too long. Hoyer lets them walk and gets blasted. Can't have it both ways
I don't think the people clamoring for change were clamoring for slashing $50 million from the payroll while adding 1 MLB contract to the roster.
Right now, P.J. Higgins is your backup catcher, who'll be getting roughly 200 plate appearances assuming Contreras stays healthy all season.
If the NL has the DL again, it looks like Max Schrock is going to be taking most of those at bats.
The Cubs have exactly 2 outfielders on their big league roster right now.
Shelby Miller, who as I noted above has managed to be healthy for a grand total of 180-ish innings in the last 5 seasons while posting an ERA just under 7 is currently slated as the #5 starter. Adbert Alzolay, with exactly 33.2 innings of Big League experience, is slated to be the #4 starter. Alec Mills and his 17 Big League starts is the #3 starter.
The closer has a 6.00 ERA over the last two seasons and has issued 9 more walks than he has saves during that time.
Go to MLBtraderumors.com or any other baseball news site and show me a single rumor from anyone that the Cubs are in on any free agent who will be signing an MLB contract. Any. Like a single one.
Yeah, I know the offseason isn't over and this won't be the roster at the start of the season, but the clock is ticking and we are less than 5 weeks from Spring Training.