Mont’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint: 2025 World Champions

[Mont]

Adding Kyle Tucker and Matt Shaw to the starting lineup and Carson Kelly, Yon Moncoda, Alexander Canario, and Luis Vazquez to the bench is a vast improvement over the 2024 Cubs. The starting rotation with Roki Sasaki and a healthy Matthew Boyd joining, Imanaga, Steele, and Taillion presents a formidable five-man rotation. With a healthy Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown in the pen, with Birdsell and Horton waiting at Iowa, available if a starter goes down, the Cubs are in good shape. Porter Hodge, Luke Little, and Ben Brown give the Cubs three young flame throwers who can develop as formidable closers.

After the Sasaki decision, if the Cubs don't sign him, more moves will be made to acquire another starter. I left Assad, Poteet, and Roberts off for that reason. A trade may be inevitable for an established mid-rotation starter, or a closer. Triantos, Vazquez, and Alcantara are also trade bait. I see ONKC as spending another year at Iowa to sharpen his skills and be available for RF if we don't sign Tucker to an extension. 

What do you guys think?

• C: Miguel Amaya ($0.80M)
• 1B: Michael Busch ($0.80M)
• 2B: Nico Hoerner ($11.50M)
• 3B: Matt Shaw ($0.80M)
• SS: Dansby Swanson ($28.00M)
• LF: Ian Happ ($21.00M)
• CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong ($0.80M)
• RF: Kyle Tucker ($15.80M)
• DH: Seiya Suzuki ($19.00M)
• 4th OF: Alexander Canario ($0.80M)
• Utility: Luis Vazquez ($0.80M)
• Utility: Yon Moncoda ($3.00M)
• Backup C: Carson Kelly ($5.75M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($7.50M)
• SP1: Shota Imanaga ($13.50M)
• SP2: Justin Steele ($10.0M)
• SP3: Jameson Taillon ($18.00M)
• SP4: Roki Sasaki ($7.50M)
• SP5: Matthew Boyd ($14.50M)
• RP: Jordan Wicks ($0.80M)
• RP: Julian Merryweather ($1.30M)
• RP: Tyson Miller ($0.80M)
• RP: Porter Hodge ($0.80M)
• RP: Ben Brown ($0.80M)
• RP: Nate Pearson ($1.40M)
• RP: Eli Morgan ($1.00M)
• RP: Luke Little ($0.80M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($2.50M)

Payroll is 13.61% under budget