Cubs 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Not surprised on Shota, thought it was a real possibility with his strikeouts and velocity dropping during the season. The Japanese pipeline is definitely dead, seems like everyone is going to be a dodger. 

I’m not surprised by Shota, either. I figured the Cubs wouldn’t and shouldn’t have given him $57M over 3 years. But I don’t think that means the Japanese pipeline is dead. Yes, the Dodgers will get whoever they want, but after them the Cubs are very much a player in that market. And I expect them to still be a player. 
Also, how quickly this Cubs decision came and then Shota also deciding so quickly has me wondering if the Cubs and Shota are working on something between what they declined and what he declined. 🤷

Just seems these decisions came very quick to me.                                                          

Also, I see the Sox exercised their option on Robert. I know several people argued they wouldn’t spend the money on him. This decision by the Sox also didn’t surprise me. 

[Rcal10]

14 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Not surprised on Shota, thought it was a real possibility with his strikeouts and velocity dropping during the season. The Japanese pipeline is definitely dead, seems like everyone is going to be a dodger

Edited November 4, 2025 by Rcal10
Double post

[chibears55]

Im shorta glad Shota elected to test FA, I like him but he he just seems like a guy they won't be able to count on much in the second half of a season because of fatigue.

We're looking at now a payroll currently at Approx. 165 mil with projected ARBs added in, so that leaves them with approximately 70 to 80 mil to spend to reach the Threshold, and they still need to decide on Turner(10), Kittredge(9), and Rea(9) options.

No reason not to go out and get a TOR arm, a solid bat, and a late inning reliever with the money they have to spend via trade or FA.

Edited November 4, 2025 by chibears55

[mk49]

14 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Im shorta glad Shota elected to test FA, I like him but he he just seems like a guy they won't be able to count on much in the second half of a season because of fatigue.

Shota did great in Sep, 2024.  It was just this year he didn't perform well in the 2nd half.  Obviously, we have only two seasons, so we don't know for sure.

He was bad in Sep, but if he came back strong in the playoffs, the Cubs would have offered the 3 yr deal.  But, that just didn't happen.  

I think there's a team that will offer Shota a 3yr $60m.   

Edited November 4, 2025 by mk49

[Stratos]

3 hours ago, CubinNY said:

That would be my preference as well, but they won't get two of the four best pitchers on the market unless their bargaining strategy and overall SOP change significantly.  

Well "TORP" doesn't neccessarily mean a #1 starter.  #2 would also be fine

[Dfan25]

Cubs trade Kittridge back to Orioles for cash . I don’t like this , but could change my mind if they end up with one of the better closers ( but doubt it )

[WhyCantWeWin]

Guess another mandate from Ricketts to cut spending even more?

[chibears55]

6 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Guess another mandate from Ricketts to cut spending even more?

Yea, a small part of me has a feeling that we're going to see more of a tear down between now and the trade deadline then upgrades to prepare for 2027 shutdown. 

[chibears55]

22 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Cubs trade Kittridge back to Orioles for cash . I don’t like this , but could change my mind if they end up with one of the better closers ( but doubt it )

That another 9 mil off the salary 

[Neuby]

25 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

That another 9 mil off the salary 

9m and not having to pay the opt 1M. With Shota and Kittridge off the books the Cubs are approaching 90M on open payroll before the first tax.

Edited November 4, 2025 by Neuby

[Jason Ross]

49 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

Cubs trade Kittridge back to Orioles for cash . I don’t like this , but could change my mind if they end up with one of the better closers ( but doubt it )

This likely signals good things, not bad ones, if we are being honest. If you are of the belief that the Cubs were basically going to punt any multi-year deals, than Kittredge on a 2026 only contract is a slam dunk. Instead, they clearly weren't picking up the option at all. 

Unless you think the Cubs are just going to super drop payroll (I do not, that feels like a really bad media look and one you'd be hard pressed to come back from), it probably means the Cubs are going to target some multi-year pickups. 

[chibears55]

Sign Bregman and Tucker 😏😏

[Hot Sauce]

Slightly bummed initially because I loved Kittredge, but I understand the logistics here. 

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Slightly bummed initially because I loved Kittredge, but I understand the logistics here. 

What logistics do you understand? One year at $9M for a solid 8th inning guy is not a bad price. Until the Cubs prove this loss will be replaced with a better pen arm on a multi year deal, I don’t understand the move. IF they do what Jason suggested, sure it does make sense. However, they are not a team who gives out multi year higher priced contracts to pen arm, even before a threat of a potential lockout after next year. While I agree with Jason that they should do that, until they do, I don’t understand this move. 

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Sign Bregman and Tucker 😏😏

If we are dreaming I would rather it be Cease and Tucker. 

[Hot Sauce]

5 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

What logistics do you understand? One year at $9M for a solid 8th inning guy is not a bad price. Until the Cubs prove this loss will be replaced with a better pen arm on a multi year deal, I don’t understand the move. IF they do what Jason suggested, sure it does make sense. However, they are not a team who gives out multi year higher priced contracts to pen arm, even before a threat of a potential lockout after next year. While I agree with Jason that they should do that, until they do, I don’t understand this move. 

I understand the possible logistics here. Better? It’s a long off-season. Let’s see where this goes.

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

I understand the possible logistics here. Better? It’s a long off-season. Let’s see where this goes.

Yep, better. And if they did let him go because they want more money to spend on a better pen arm, I agree with the plan. Guess I am just skeptical. 

[Hot Sauce]

3 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Yep, better. And if they did let him go because they want more money to spend on a better pen arm, I agree with the plan. Guess I am just skeptical. 

Understandably skeptical.

[Tryptamine]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they shaved 20-30M off last years payroll. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same. The only scenario that would surprise is if they actually exceeded the first tier, on purpose anyway. 

[chibears55]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

If we are dreaming I would rather it be Cease and Tucker. 

Get him too..lol

[Bertz]

Legitimate shocker, wow

 

[mk49]

9 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Legitimate shocker, wow

 

I can say one word, "wow".  I guess I can say more.  He didn't pitch many games in the last 2 seasons.  I would think many teams pick Shota over Bieber.  

Edited November 5, 2025 by mk49

[mk49]

About Shota being a free agent, I thought more about it today.  I love him, and I hoped he stayed (well, he might).  That being said, I understood both the team's and Shota's decision.  

It's going to be hard to sign somebody who's significantly better than Shota.  Now, we know Yu Darvish will be out for the next season, and the Padres will probably try to keep either Cease or King.  That's two less free agent SP's (Bieber and Cease or King)., or at least, that's going to jack up the price by competing with the Padres for a good SP.  I mean there are 30 MLB teams, and only 5 or so good SP's in the free agency, Valdez, Suarez, Cease, King, Gallen?  A couple of them are questionable, just like Shota.  The Cubs will probably have to find a good one via a trade, if they're actually willing to spend some $.  

No wonder they couldn't get a good SP at the trade deadline.  It's hard to come by, I guess.

I just read an article, and it projected;

Valdez  7yr, $196m
Imai  8yr, $190m
Cease  6yr, $174m
Suarez  6yr, $153m
King  3yr, 75m

Of course, we don't know how much they get, but only King and maybe, Cease would be affordable for the Cubs.  Either way, they will be much more (and longer) than Shota's 3yr deal.  I liked Imai that I saw on Youtube, but 8yr is too long.  Teams like the Dodgers will taka that chance, like they did with Yamamoto.  The Cubs won't.  

To be honest, I won't be surprised if our rotation looks like Boyd, Horton, Jamo, Assad and Ben Brown, until Steele comes back.

Edited November 5, 2025 by mk49

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I think BA had Bieber getting like 5/150 on the open market. Wow.

[Neuby]

Why? Makes no sense. Jays are getting a steal.