That was underwhelming to say the least. This team as is cannot win it all. No frontline starter and Boyd is on borrowed time. You have Tucker for probably only this year and an offense for the ages and you do basically nothing. At a minimum go overpay for one of the Marlins guys. What a disappointment.
Chicago Cubs 2025
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I know this will probably be regarded as sacrilege to the folks who like to spend other people’s money, but in the off season I would prefer to use Tucker money to buy pitching and move Caissie and Alcantara up. Chances are excellent one of the two of them can come close enough to Tucker numbers and it is a lack of pitching, not a lack of runs, that is killing us. You can get a lot of pitching for $500,000,000.
If Tucker is worth $500,000,000 how much are the other guys worth who have as many RBIs, HRs, similar OPS?
If Cubs don’t re-sign Tucker, I have severe doubt they will spend much of that money next year. With Tucker off the books and then potentially Happ, Hoerner, Suzuki and Taillon only signed through 2026, one has to wonder if won’t just save money and cleanup the books prior to lockout/strike.
As to Caissie or Alcantara having an excellent chance of replacing Tucker’s numbers, not sure I’d say excellent — at least not next season. I like Owen a lot and think he’ll be a good one. Less sold on Alcantara.
I’d agree with this. I’m feeling less in love with Tucker, and for what he will be asking that money would be better spent on pitching, question is, will we spend it? I’ve never seen Owens play, but i’m assuming he will be decent. But we have to lock down pca.
Pulling Horton after only 71 pitches through 5 innings certainly looks like they’re trying to limit his innings pitched this year.
Which begs the question as to what they were doing yesterday in only getting one SP.
Which begs the question as to what they were doing yesterday in only getting one SP.
Except Ricketts will not sign Tucker and pocket the money. Just like he did when they traded Bellinger. Wasn't that money supposed to go towards pitching?
Ricketts had no choice to rebuild after trading the farm system away in 2026-17. Let’s see what happens.
The asking price for starting pitching was wild. I think that they wanted Gore, but the Nats wanted Shaw AND Caissie. Sometimes, you have to walk away from the table. On top of that, some teams just pulled their starters off the market.
It takes two willing partners to make a deal. I don't blame Jed at all for not agreeing to take one in the rear from a team like Washington. Nobody else did either. Florida held on to Alcantara and Cabrera, Pittsburgh held on to Keller.....the asking prices were ridiculous.
Ricketts is as dumb as a fox. The Cubs have about 8 players contracts that come up after the 2026 season. The formal end of the season is December 1st. At that point, there will be a work stoppage and the 2027 baseball season is probably going to get wiped out. None of those free agents can sign contracts with the league shutdown. The Cubs will be sitting pretty just waiting to see what the new salary floor, cap or both will be, then can act accordingly.
It makes absolutely no financial sense to take on an albatross contract on in 2026, when 2027 and beyond is one big unknown. The Cubs will have pretty clean books when it's all said and done and will benefit from it when play resumes and free agency reopens..... whenever that is.
If someone wants to throw 500M at Tucker with all of that looming, good for them. Let him go.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
You think there will be a cap? Maybe a floor but I don’t see a cap.
I don’t think they should have paid out the nose for one of the guys that didn’t get traded. I think they should have gotten a May or a Houser or etc. in addition to Soroka.
I think they’re going to be scrambling for innings at the end of September unless absolutely everything goes right. If any one of Imanega, Boyd, Soroka or Taillon tweaks an elbow and has to miss a month, they’re going to be in really bad shape.
As a lifelong Cub fan I see them not signing anyone, then finishing second in the division and fourth in the wildcard race.
Not 100% sure of any of this, but I believe if on roster by Aug 31, you’re eligible for post season. Also believe August trades are much more difficult to make as the Aug waiver trades have for the most part been eliminated. Might see some players hit waivers as a cost cutting measure, but I believe they just go through normal waiver process and are either claimed or released.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
That's not the issue. The problem is not spending the $20MM savings from Bellinger
He's not dumb. He's cheap.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Penny wise and pound foolish.
Yep he still hasn’t spent the money
The teams who were sellers were asking for multiple top 100 players. Buyers refused to budge which is why starting pitchers did not move. I thought the Cubs added to fill a need. A. Super utility guy like Castro will pay dividends and the three pitchers they got replenishes our pen. Anyone who think the Cubs failed on the deadline is not looking at the big picture. We will be a lock down team from the 6th or 7th inning on especially when Brown is moved to the pen.
One thing teams are looking at is 27 when the contract is up. There is a good chance that there might be a work stoppage. Teams might be hesitant to put big money on a free agent with that looming in the next year. I think the Cubs and Tucker could come to an agreement as he loves playing here. Caissie will be a huge part of our team going forward. We are in a great situation here.
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