Chicago Cubs 2026

#101      
MikeTisdale
Emerson Bigguns said:
I think they are gun shy due to the way the 2016 core flamed out after winning big. They were supposed to be built to last at that point. 2016 was supposed to be a year early... 2017 & 2018 were good years, but the team was not quite the same... and then the bottom completely fell out.

By 2019, everything they built during the Cinderella run had turned into a pumpkin. The farm was barren and not producing, and the guys they had bet on to carry the team forward had become shells of their championship selves. Guys they spent big on weren't living up to their contracts, so they tore the thing down to the studs and started over... Which was probably the right move.

Building a consistent winner takes a consistent approach. The last championship window was slammed shut due to taking big swings, missing, and not having the financial flexibility or organizational depth to pivot. This window of contention has opened due to a deliberate approach. Can they maintain consistent momentum? Time will tell...

That said, I do think they should pony up for a proven bat.
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The thing is... the window is kind of slamming shut this year

Happ, Suzuki, Hoerner, Taillon, Imanaga, and almost certainly Boyd are free agents. They don't have the cheap controlled guys to replace 2/3rds of their OF or even close to 3/5ths of the rotation - at least not close to the same level. Not to mention Swanson is a defense first guy who won't age gracefully most likely. Yea there's a young core, but it's not to the quality of 2016s young core.

If there was a year to take a big swing, it's now.
 
#103      
champaignchris
tatupu70 said:
Those are good points and I agree except I would add that I think Ricketts has set a payroll limit in the 200-220MM range. Even if the Cubs don’t want to sign 10 year contracts, they should still be at or exceeding the first tier every season.
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Yeah. They’ve been bizarrely inactive in free agency. They at one point went something like 3 years between signing any players to multi-year contracts, I believe from Morrow to Stroman. And they didn’t sign a single position player free agent to a multi-year contract from Heyward to Yan Gomes. Over 6 years.
 
#104      
Emerson Bigguns
MikeTisdale said:
The thing is... the window is kind of slamming shut this year

Happ, Suzuki, Hoerner, Taillon, Imanaga, and almost certainly Boyd are free agents. They don't have the cheap controlled guys to replace 2/3rds of their OF or even close to 3/5ths of the rotation - at least not close to the same level. Not to mention Swanson is a defense first guy who won't age gracefully most likely. Yea there's a young core, but it's not to the quality of 2016s young core.

If there was a year to take a big swing, it's now.
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The rotation will still have Horton, Steele, and Cabrera. (Assad is under control, Wiggins should be 100% ready for a spot by 2027) Do we think Happ and Suzuki will be difficult to replace or retain at similar prices? Horner is the only one on this list who will really be in line for an a major contract upgrade.

They strategically arranged these contracts to expire when the collective bargaining agreement expires. You don't know what a good deal is when you don't know what the rules will be. If there is a work stoppage, it obviously puts you in a less compromising position as an organization.

In my mind, the expiration of those contracts is a good thing for the long-term health of the organization. All those guys are making a competitive wage in MLB relative to their performance. The Cubs will have flexibility to re-evaluate their value vs. what is available, and will be able to negotiate new deals under whatever rules emerge from collective bargaining. They won't be hamstrung by contracts drawn up under different circumstances.

I'm not arguing against acquiring another bat. I do think it is necessary if we are going to compete for the division again. I'm just pointing out why they may be reluctant to give out a long-term guaranteed contract. I think if any of the Bregman, Bichette, Tucker, Bellinger group ends up considering a high AAV short-term deal, they will be very competitive in a negotiation like that. If all those guys get 7 year deals, the Cubs are likely to stand pat. As of now, most of those guys are still holding out hope for the long-term big deal. (I don't think it's coming)
 
#106      
Illiniaaron
champaignchris said:
“Cheap” isn’t the word I’d use to describe the Cubs. I think “conservative” is the better word.

They’re not like the parody of a cheap franchise from “Major League.”

They spend money. They pay their staff well, they have first rate Major and minor league facilities. They spend on scouting and analytics. They’re among the top of baseball in providing amenities to their minor leaguers. Pretty much no one, on or off the field, has had a bad word to say about how the Ricketts’s run things. It seems players and staff genuinely like working for them.

But in the post-Epstein years, they’ve gotten extraordinarily conservative about spending on MLB payroll. They’ve sat out the top end of the free agent pool since the end of the 2018 season. That coincides with some pretty underwhelming on-field performance, with zero post season victories from 2018-2024.

So, I understand the frustration. The Cubs plan is to work on the floor. Try to assure 84-ish wins instead of taking a shot at 100-ish wins. Their thought is if they make the playoffs consistently, they’ll eventually hit a heater at the right time and win a WS. Which would be a good plan if they were actually making the playoffs 4 of 5 years instead of 1 of 5 years.
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I really don't have an issue with their spending, but I would like them to add talent at the deadline that can help them get to a WS if its in the cards. Please don't talk to me about 2032 when you are a contender at the end of July in 2025.
 
#110      
Grandpa
I'm going to have to make myself tolerate that cockiest of all the cheating Astros. My grandson may be able to fire me up for him.
 
#114      
EyeoftheIllini
Emerson Bigguns said:
Best fit among the impact guys left. No notes.
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I’m not a huge Bregman fan: I worry about how his power will play in Wrigley; and it is highly unlikely he justifies that contract. But like you say, he’s the best fit among the available impact bats, and I’m not the Cubs accountant or the guy paying him. Hopefully he can stay healthy and do plenty of damage in a Cubs uniform over next five years.
 
#115      
Grandpa
Grandpa said:
I'm going to have to make myself tolerate that cockiest of all the cheating Astros. My grandson may be able to fire me up for him.
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Replying to myself, Cubs playing in Miami Sept 4,5,6. Our daughter is a huge Cubs fan, as is her son. We need to visit, and when the Cubs are playing is a fine time. Their stadium kinda sucks, but the seats are cheap. Positives: 1)You can sit down front for the cost of a Wrigley nosebleed. 2)You can park really close.
Negatives: 1)They encourage their fans to bring noisemakers. 2)You will never see a replay of their opponents good play on their screen. 3) Their crappy screen.
 
#117      
tatupu70
EyeoftheIllini said:
I’m not a huge Bregman fan: I worry about how his power will play in Wrigley; and it is highly unlikely he justifies that contract. But like you say, he’s the best fit among the available impact bats, and I’m not the Cubs accountant or the guy paying him. Hopefully he can stay healthy and do plenty of damage in a Cubs uniform over next five years.
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Same for me. I don't love Bregman and think it's an overpay, but Cubs should be overpaying for the guys they want. The front office for sure knows more than me about his expected aging curve so hopefully they are correct.
 
#118      
Second place is 1st loser
EyeoftheIllini said:
I’m not a huge Bregman fan: I worry about how his power will play in Wrigley; and it is highly unlikely he justifies that contract. But like you say, he’s the best fit among the available impact bats, and I’m not the Cubs accountant or the guy paying him. Hopefully he can stay healthy and do plenty of damage in a Cubs uniform over next five years.
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I'm not sure what the options are on his contract. If the Cubs have an option in year 3, for example, that makes total sense. Not sure of the details.
 
#119      
ChiefGritty
Emerson Bigguns said:
Best fit among the impact guys left. No notes.
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I think the fit question kind of comes down to whether you see Shaw's bat or Seiya's glove as the bigger weak spot.

I thought a reunion with Bellinger made a lot of sense, but I'm sure he's seeking a lot more money.

MLB should put a stop to the deferral stuff, but as long as they don't it's important for the Cubs to be competing in that space, happy to see that's a part of this deal.
 
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#120      
Jimbo
EyeoftheIllini said:
I’m not a huge Bregman fan: I worry about how his power will play in Wrigley; and it is highly unlikely he justifies that contract. But like you say, he’s the best fit among the available impact bats, and I’m not the Cubs accountant or the guy paying him. Hopefully he can stay healthy and do plenty of damage in a Cubs uniform over next five years.
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Oh you’re paying.
 
#125      
ChiefGritty
EyeoftheIllini said:
That’s what what I read today also. No options, no opt outs and a full no trade clause.
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Scott Boras accepting a deal that both doesn't contain any opt-outs and which ends after his client's age 36 season represents a bit of a shift from him.

The Boras M.O. in recent years has been to either get his guys paid well past when they would project to be useful players or to have an immediate ability to opt-out and reenter free agency with major guaranteed money in the event of injury or bad performance.

I get the sense his clients are sick of the opt-out deals where they are constantly on the market playing on essentially one-year rollovers. Bregman is making a ton of money here, this is in no way a failure, and it aligns Boras' player with his team in a way those opt-out deals don't.
 
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