Chicago Cubs 2026

[Warren Carter Fanclub]

I literally believe the existence of a 2027 season is at stake in the NLCS and I'm still rooting against the Brewers. True hate.

I keep telling myself it should be jealousy, not hate, but then I remember their official NLDS 2025 team victory photo with the "L" flag and I return to hate.
The only team photo ever after a playoff win mocking the team you just beat. No class.
I'd love to see the Cubs beat the Brewers and take a team photo with Bernie Brewer in a noose. Well, maybe that's a bit too much.

 

[ChiefGritty]

But a summer tailgate at Miller Park (screw the new name) followed by an evening game is a beautiful day.

That's true, and I have no issue with the Brewers conceptually or with their fans, it's just this bunch of faceless nobodies that absolutely everything goes right for that I have absolutely had it with.

They're better than the Cubs every year despite Chourio and the Miz being the first remotely interesting players they've had during that span. And all conducted by Mr. Square Jaw Baseball Man Pat Murphy. Barf.

 

[champaignchris]

…or with their fans…

Every Brewers fan is also a Packers and Badgers fan.

 

[Battle89]

Every Brewers fan is also a Packers and Badgers fan.

Not true! I know several personally who like the Brewers but dislike the other Wisconsin teams.

And for the record, it’s still Cubs first. I went to a Brewers/Cubs game in June and rooted for the Cubs. But that setup up there is just about perfect for pre and post game tailgating.

 

[Grandpa]

Currently a least I Really Really hate the Brewers. OTOH I Really Really Really hate the Dodgers. If we get a salary cap and the Dodgers become just another good team my hate for them will probably wane. I Really hate the Cardinals, but not as much since they suck, and I no longer put up with their stupid fans in the workplace.

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

Currently a least I Really Really hate the Brewers. OTOH I Really Really Really hate the Dodgers. If we get a salary cap and the Dodgers become just another good team my hate for them will probably wane. I Really hate the Cardinals, but not as much since they suck, and I no longer put up with their stupid fans in the workplace.

I’m just watching the ALCS and trying to figure out which of these teams can take down either of these exhausting NL teams.
One of them is going to have to get hot.

Milwaukee’s bullpen has been insanely good, and it’s not like their SP can’t match up with anyone… The Dodgers are the Death Star. I hate this series.
I don’t feel great about the next round either.
Is basketball season here yet?

 

[bdutts]

yea
I do hate the Brewers, but nfw can I ever root for the Dodgers in this day and age

I’m the opposite of you. I could never root for the Brewers. While I hate the Dodgers, they haven’t done anything outside of the rules. However, they are the reason owners want a cap and probably why there won’t be baseball come April.

 

[AssemblyHallForever]

It’s obvious that the Brewers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. So let’s pencil them in as the Central Champion again for next year unless something drastic happens. The Cubs are in rebuild mode. Even though the Cubs will have a lot of money to spend, the free agent market for position players suck. Also, we have no idea how the collective bargaining will go but most likely there will be a lockout of some sorts. So what do the Cubs do? Well, let assume that there is a season. The Cubs will go hard into signing FA pitchers. They need at least two starters or possibly three. They need at least two solid relievers to go along with Brown and Zeferjahn. Do they trade Shaw and or Busch? This will be Jed’s hardest offseason with all the questions out there. He cannot make mistakes as the seat has gotten warm for him.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Do they trade Shaw

Sure hope so!

 

[Gary J]

Sure hope so!

I have finally joined the trade Shaw camp. Get what you can and move be on.

 

[Second place is 1st loser]

I have finally joined the trade Shaw camp. Get what you can and move be on.

I'm on board with that, but the return has to be significant because the Cubs, currently, are vulnerable in LF and RF. They have nobody to replace those two should they leave in free agency. We're looking at Ramirez and Shaw. The Cubs are also going to be in need of a platoon player to step in at 2nd and 3rd in case of injury or just providing a day off. They also need pinch hitting options late in games.

If Hoyer is legit and pitching is the priority with where money and resources go....they won't have the ability to fill LF and RF. Suzuki is going to be, probably, the biggest bat in free agency. They won't pay for it. If they bring Happ back at a discount, he's got to platoon because he can't hit lefties, so we're in the same situation as last year with K's being a problem.

I don't know who's ready to come up that you can hitch the wagons to provide a replacement for Shaw. He hasn't been fantastic, but we know, over the last two years, he can play at the major league level. With prospects.....you just never know. To pin those roles on a player that hasn't taken a major league swing is a huge, huge roll of the dice. Those are the types of guys you ease in to see what they can do.

If we say that Cabrera is going to bounce back and start, they are short four starting pitchers. We have no clue what Steele is going to look like or how many innings he can go. Horton won't be back in 2027 and his future is probably is in the bullpen. Talking about the bullpen.....the entire thing needs to be overhauled.

They have SO MANY holes to fill because of all of the free agents(didn't even mention catcher)....I just don't see how you can just cut guys loose unless Ricketts is going to go above and beyond, which is extremely unlikely. Tough situation.

 

[Illiniaaron]

I have finally joined the trade Shaw camp. Get what you can and move be on.

I would give him one more year to see what he could do. He had a bad season but it was derailed by injuries. You won't get much of anything for him in a trade.

 

[AssemblyHallForever]

I have finally joined the trade Shaw camp. Get what you can and move be on.

There are two team that have pitching that we could package Shaw to and those are Anaheim and Toronto. They need left infield players and OF needs. Seattle as well. Detmers and Gilbert would be two guys I would try to lure away from Anaheim and Seattle

 

[AssemblyHallForever]

I'm on board with that, but the return has to be significant because the Cubs, currently, are vulnerable in LF and RF. They have nobody to replace those two should they leave in free agency. We're looking at Ramirez and Shaw. The Cubs are also going to be in need of a platoon player to step in at 2nd and 3rd in case of injury or just providing a day off. They also need pinch hitting options late in games.

If Hoyer is legit and pitching is the priority with where money and resources go....they won't have the ability to fill LF and RF. Suzuki is going to be, probably, the biggest bat in free agency. They won't pay for it. If they bring Happ back at a discount, he's got to platoon because he can't hit lefties, so we're in the same situation as last year with K's being a problem.

I don't know who's ready to come up that you can hitch the wagons to provide a replacement for Shaw. He hasn't been fantastic, but we know, over the last two years, he can play at the major league level. With prospects.....you just never know. To pin those roles on a player that hasn't taken a major league swing is a huge, huge roll of the dice. Those are the types of guys you ease in to see what they can do.

If we say that Cabrera is going to bounce back and start, they are short four starting pitchers. We have no clue what Steele is going to look like or how many innings he can go. Horton won't be back in 2027 and his future is probably is in the bullpen. Talking about the bullpen.....the entire thing needs to be overhauled.

They have SO MANY holes to fill because of all of the free agents(didn't even mention catcher)....I just don't see how you can just cut guys loose unless Ricketts is going to go above and beyond, which is extremely unlikely. Tough situation.

We are in a rebuild around the core players of Bregman, PCA, Hoerner and Swanson. The best of our minors are going to be ready to contribute in 28. But Jed needs to get young pitchers in the system via trade or FA. The best of the FAs are pitchers as several will opt out. I hope we can be a player in the Michael King sweepstakes if he opts out. We could trade using Shaw and a couple of prospects for Gilbert in a Seattle or Detmers in Anaheim. It will cost 20-25 million for Detmers by what I am reading. Both Seattle and Anaheim need a left side infielder and OF help. I doubt we go after Arosarena but he would be a quality fit in LF. Kwan from Cleveland might be another LF we could look at. RF is Alcantara’s best landing spot but I am not high on his game but may be he will surprise us this offseason. No matter what we do, we are not going to catch the Brewers unless something drastic happens in Milwaukee. Like you said, we have too many holes to fill because of opt outs and free agency. I say we just build for 28 when guys like Kepley, Townsend, Hartshorn and Wiggins will be ready. We could deal Busch this offseason as well. Murray could be a platoon player at 1st if we do trade Busch. Lots of options but this is a pivotal year for Jed. He needs to get younger, better players in our system as our farm has dropped tremendously last year because of the trades we had to make.

 

[Illiniaaron]

Not trying to be a jerk but I don't understand the posts saying Shaw is bad but then also he can somehow be used in a trade to acquire good young pitching.

 

[MikeTisdale]

Not trying to be a jerk but I don't understand the posts saying Shaw is bad but then also he can somehow be used in a trade to acquire good young pitching.

That's a timed honored baseball fan tradition - "we should package enough of our crap and get X good player".

Shaw is an overpay a Logan Gilbert-esqe trade, but maybe a good center piece of a Detmers level trade (Logan is a 1 year deal and Detmers has 2 years of control and is better). Teams probably don't do that over the off season though with him coming off an injury year, probably has to gain some value for a mid-season 2027 trade or after 2027.

Most of Shaw's value comes from the 4 more years of control (including another minimum year in 2027) and potential (ZiPS still has him as a 3 win player - very valuable on a cheap contract for that long).

 

[IanKEvans2]

Not trying to be a jerk but I don't understand the posts saying Shaw is bad but then also he can somehow be used in a trade to acquire good young pitching.

Haha, thank you for saying this. It's been a fun logical fallacy to watch unfold. "The Cubs need a significant return on an insignificant player!"

 

[Illiniaaron]

The Cubs are just never going to get the top benefit of Shaw as a player because I think his best position by far is third, and he ain't gonna play there because that spot is occupied for years to come. He's just not going to be as valuable in left or right.