Okay folks, we're closing in on a finished roster.

This article effectively ties together and concludes my first 4 blogposts here at northsidebaseball.com. Here I'll sum up my ideal roster moves remaining for Jed Hoyer, and how/why it leads to sustained dominance for 2026 and perhaps 2027.  

First, Let's summarize the remaining contracts that I endorse to maximize the WAR of the 2025 Cubs. 

1)  Sign Tanner Scott, LH Closer, 3/5 year contract, somewhat backloaded... 20 mil in 2025. +3 WAR (compared to the player we cut)
2) Sign Randal Grichuk OF bench, 2 year contract, slightly backloaded, 12 mil in 2025. +2 WAR as elite platoon bat

3) Sign Paul DeJong for 3B/utility infield. 1 year contract, 9 mil in 2025. +2 WAR (compared to a -.5 WAR utility guy in his spot)

4) Roll with Gage Workman as the opening day LH utility bat, and replace him as needed. 0 WAR. 
With this roster construction, this guy will see fewer than 50 at bats and mostly be a late-inning glove substitute for dinged-up starters. For any player with a stint on the injured list, he would be bypassed by Shaw. Vidal Brujan can do this same job, doens't matter much.  

Remaining: cap right now: $50 million.     Wins projected now: 93

Total cap hit of signings: 41 million. 

Remaining after these signings: $9 million.  Wins after signings: 100 !!!! Oh boy, look out, Dodgers!

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How would this set of signings affect 2026?

Using this same path of roster construction, we could actually re-sign Tucker for 2026 if we did a few creative things. First, keep in mind we have $7.5 MM in money going to Smyly and Heyward that will be falling off. Then, DeJong departs. Then we trade Suzuki to clear Tucker's spot and Tucker's long-term money. Those moves, combined, frees up about 35 million. We don't resign Rea or Thielbar, taking us to 42mm. Half of that would go to Tucker, and the other half to cover all the youngster contract increases.  We then trade away Assad and Amaya to hunt for a long-term answer at catcher. We promote Caissie to platoon with Grichuk and that split duo performs similarly as Suzuki at DH. We promote Triantos to be our utility infield, and to understudy to replace Hoerner in 2027.  Alcantara is traded off by then, as there's no spot for him. He looks like a 2026 starter at a small market team that's rebuilding. I assume Ballesteros remains a minor-league callup for 2026 and replaces Kelly in 2027. 

2026 Field Roster: 

Outfield: Happ, PCA, Tucker, Grichuk, Caissie

Infield: Shaw, Swanson, Hoerner, Busch, Triantos, "X replacing DeJong" from minors

Catchers: Kelly, and "x", a trade/FA upgrade from Amaya. 

2026 Rotation Options: Steele, Imanaga, Taillon, Boyd, Brown, Horton, Birdsell, Poteet 

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How about 2027? Does this path still make sense then?

Beyond this, many things can happen for 2027. However, we can imagine that we resign the irreplaceable Happ, let Hoerner go for Triantos, and extend Busch and PCA. We replace Grichuk with the next guy up from the minors... but as you can see, this is still a very strong and continuous roster with a clear identity. There's no sudden drop-off in 2027. There will also be enough money to replace Shaw or Triantos if either bombs. 
2027 Roster projection: 

outfield: Happ, PCA, Tucker, Caissie, x 

Infield: Shaw, Swanson, Triantos, Busch, x, x

rotation: Steele, Imanaga, Brown, Horton, Birdsell, x, x, x

And throughout all this time, you have an elite closer duo in Scott/Hodge under contract. 

What about the Bregman Route? To be honest, it's not much worse in the short run, but a tight budget long run. 

Suppose we did this in 2025: 
Closer: Finnegan. 2 years, 25 mil+ 3rd year option... 1.5 WAR

Bregman at 3rd. 3 years, 90 mil. + 4 WAR

No outfield signing. 

Wins: about 98

Budget remaining: <$8 million.

With this approach, the budget is much tighter for 2026. After signing Bregman and Tucker, there would be no cash to upgrade at catcher. We'd be stuck with Amaya mediocrity. Second, we wouldn't have Grichuk as a 2026 DH, and the odds are we would simply promote a guy from within. Third, assume Shaw is now a long-term power hitting 2B for the Cubs. Bregman would be likely to plateau and decline as soon as 2027. This would still be a nice lineup but depress the 2027 roster's potential 100+ win tally to about 97, lock up a lot more money, and make it near impossible to spend on upgrading anything for the number of years that Bregman is under contract; and, finally we would lose Ian Happ as we couldn't commit to another big contract. 

2027 with Bregman: 

Outfield: x, PCA, Tucker, Caissie, x 

Infield: Bregman, Swanson, Busch, Shaw, Triantos

Catcher: Amaya, Kelly

Wins: 97 or less (because Ian Happ walks and Amaya is so mid!)

Conclusion: 

In effect, I much prefer risking a big contract on Scott and having a near-perfect roster balance, than go for Bregman and tighten the budget for the preceding few years. However, I would be happier with either of these solutions than neither of these.