Chicago Cubs 2026

#1,027      
Illiniaaron
Second place is 1st loser said:
The best thing that could happen for the Cubs is a full season lockout next year. They need to circle the wagons and really take a hard look at what they have and who can be counted on.
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I don’t like the lockout part of your post but they have to do the second part in the off season. I’m not sure how they can cobble together a pitching staff.
 
#1,029      
Second place is 1st loser
I don’t like the lockout part of your post but they have to do the second part in the off season. I’m not sure how they can cobble together a pitching staff.
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I hate the thought of a lockout too, but after this year and the amount of free agents, both pitchers and everyday players, is extremely heavy. Unless the rules change, they can't address it all and part of it is their own doing because they have no answers in their farm system.

Boyd, Taillon, Imanaga and I think Rae(??) all come up and there are major issues with Horton and Steele. Replacing an entire staff plus addressing an extremely porous bullpen is quite the challenge.

From a position player standpoint, Happ, Suzuki, Kelly come up. So, that's both corner outfielders and a pretty major component, along with Amaya, behind the plate. Hard to be concerned about losing Happ or Suzuki right now. It's been the struggle bus for both of them.

I want to qualify some of that because there are club/player options built into the equation.

Part of me wants to believe that Ricketts and Hoyer had these contracts come up at the same time because of the looming strike. They'll have a mostly black canvas to start.

Again, I don't want a strike, but for the Cubs.....it'll sure bring some clarity with what they can/can't do in free agency. I'd hate for them to run out the same ole, same ole when it's clearly not working. The staff..... they'll never be able to afford all they'll need.
 
#1,031      
KBLEE
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#1,041      
Second place is 1st loser
champaignchris said:
Steele, Boyd, Wiggins, Brown, Cabrera, Taillon, Horton all on the IL now. That’s 7 of top 10 starters in the system all hurt at the same time.

Also their closer, Palencia.
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At what point does the pitching coach, training staff and/or S & C staff need to come into question? Is it poor off-season preparation? An injury or two happens. That's just life in pro sports. This is WAY outside of what could be considered reasonable.
 
#1,043      
Illiniaaron
Second place is 1st loser said:
At what point does the pitching coach, training staff and/or S & C staff need to come into question? Is it poor off-season preparation? An injury or two happens. That's just life in pro sports. This is WAY outside of what could be considered reasonable.
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I don't disagree with you but the Boyd and Cabrera injuries were just one of those things that happen. I think you can definitely question why Cabrera was bad this season. Also this organization's communication about injuries seems terrible to me. I don't follow the rest of the league that much so maybe it's a common thing in MLB.
 
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