Cubs 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[Stratos]

13 hours ago, Neuby said:

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.

They could sign anyone now in theory.  They have to rebuild almost the entire pen so I'm thinking they spend around 25m on that.  About 10m on the bench.  That leaves 50m on good players.

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, Bertz said:

Legitimate shocker, wow

 

I figured he'd resign there, but didn't think that would happen.  He said during the WS he loved playing in Toronto, closest team he's ever played on.  Scherzer could resign too.

Bichette and Vladdy are bffs since low minors as teens. Jays had a magical run.  I think the Jays definitely have the inside track on Bichette if they want to spend the money.

[Stratos]

12 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

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. 

I don't think their payroll this past season was set in stone. They were in on Tanner Scott and Bregman.  I think they stay flexible to snipe on good contracts for good players if they happen, but they just didn't last offseason.

They'll probably be around 10m under the tax per usual.

[thawv]

16 hours 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 )

They were never going to give him 9 million.  Now they don't even have to pay his 1 million buyout plus they receive some cash! 

[Bertz]

The fact that we heard about the Shota and Kittredge decisions within a few hours of each other and more than a day later there is nothing on Rea is a bit weird, right?  A sign he's also getting traded?

[Stratos]

45 minutes ago, Bertz said:

The fact that we heard about the Shota and Kittredge decisions within a few hours of each other and more than a day later there is nothing on Rea is a bit weird, right?  A sign he's also getting traded?

Can't see them not picking up the option

[Rcal10]

5 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Can't see them not picking up the option

1 for $22M? I can see them not doing that. I hope they don’t. 

[Bertz]

10 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Can't see them not picking up the option

It's tough.  I compared it earlier this winter to Mike Tauchman last winter.  On a $/WAR basis it feels obvious, but you hope/expect that the roster moves towards a place where he's not a great fit. 

[mk49]

19 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Can't see them not picking up the option

Talking about $6m option for Rea, right?  I agree with that.

[Rcal10]

23 minutes ago, mk49 said:

Talking about $6m option for Rea, right?  I agree with that.

Oops, my bad. Thought it was Shota he was talking about. I think they will pick up Rea’s option, but it isn’t a sure thing IMO. If they think Assad can do what Rea did they might let him go too. $6M isn’t a lot of money, but it is one less spot to sign a cheaper pen arm and maybe have more for a better pitcher. If they bring in 2 starting pitchers this off season (one via trade and another as a FA) where does Rea fit? $6M for a #6, #7 starter or a multiple inning middle relief pitcher is a lot to pay. Especially when you have guys like Assad, Wicks, Brown and maybe even Wiggins who can fill any of those spots for less. Again, I think they pick it up, but I can see an argument against it. 

[Stratos]

44 minutes ago, Bertz said:

It's tough.  I compared it earlier this winter to Mike Tauchman last winter.  On a $/WAR basis it feels obvious, but you hope/expect that the roster moves towards a place where he's not a great fit. 

I think he can be the 6th starter with Assad and stay in the pen otherwise as a longman.  He started in the pen last year but was needed when Steele went down along with Assad.

It's possible they think they can do better for a 6th man but it's still a good deal.

[Neuby]

. Could the Cubs theoretically flip Rea and his option like Kittridge? 

[Geographyhater8888]

Will the Cubs even pretend to make Tucker a competitive offer? Tarik Skubal is being shopped too. 

Edited November 6, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[thawv]

11 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

Oops, my bad. Thought it was Shota he was talking about. I think they will pick up Rea’s option, but it isn’t a sure thing IMO. If they think Assad can do what Rea did they might let him go too. $6M isn’t a lot of money, but it is one less spot to sign a cheaper pen arm and maybe have more for a better pitcher. If they bring in 2 starting pitchers this off season (one via trade and another as a FA) where does Rea fit? $6M for a #6, #7 starter or a multiple inning middle relief pitcher is a lot to pay. Especially when you have guys like Assad, Wicks, Brown and maybe even Wiggins who can fill any of those spots for less. Again, I think they pick it up, but I can see an argument against it. 

This makes a lot of sense.  

[macarthur31]

Cubs extend Rea for 6.5M + 6.5 club option in '27.  

Currently Rea, Assad, Wicks project as fighting for the 4 and 5 slots.  Assume that Jed picks up a 2/3 in offseason, now they're fighting for the 5th.  Finally, Steele will come back mid summer (fingers crossed), and those guys are depth.  

Of course, Jamo, Cade and Boyd may not post all those starts, so that's solid depth to pull from.  Assad and Wicks both have 2 options each, so there's flexibility there.  I was hoping Jed would shoot for a couple 2/3 guys, so that option isn't totally off the table, but I intuit that Rea is a real nice security blanket in case that doesn't shake out.  

[Bertz]

Javier Assad right now

 

[Rcal10]

31 minutes ago, macarthur31 said:

Cubs extend Rea for 6.5M + 6.5 club option in '27.  

Currently Rea, Assad, Wicks project as fighting for the 4 and 5 slots.  Assume that Jed picks up a 2/3 in offseason, now they're fighting for the 5th.  Finally, Steele will come back mid summer (fingers crossed), and those guys are depth.  

Of course, Jamo, Cade and Boyd may not post all those starts, so that's solid depth to pull from.  Assad and Wicks both have 2 options each, so there's flexibility there.  I was hoping Jed would shoot for a couple 2/3 guys, so that option isn't totally off the table, but I intuit that Rea is a real nice security blanket in case that doesn't shake out.  

With Steele coming back by June and guys like Rea, Wicks, Assad and Brown as depth, plus possibly Wiggins later in the year, this signing tells me they are only looking to add one pitcher to the rotation. Which is fine, as long as it is someone who can fill the TOR, not another 4th starter. If/when all are healthy a rotation of Steele, Boyd, Horton, Taillon and a front end starter is a nice rotation. And they have depth. 

[Dfan25]

IMO , Marlins continue to be the team that fits the best with the Cubs ( Alcantara , Cabrera ) and  Cassie / Long as really good fits for Mia .

Cubs also have depth arms that they could include to replace the marlins SP.

[Neuby]

Wouldn't surprise me to see them Tender a deal to Reese and carry him with only 27 roster spots filled right now,  Flip him for a lottery ticket 

[Post Count Padder]

5 hours ago, Bertz said:

Javier Assad right now

 

I honestly wasn't sure he'd survive the roster cuts last year after adding Rea. Same this year but now he's coming off an injury-shortened season and we would be selling low in a trade.

[Post Count Padder]

MLBTR dropped their top FA list and predictions:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/2025-26-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html

 

They have the Cubs in on (there are 4 writers that each pick where they think the player will go): Framber, Ranger Suarez, Imai, Woodruff, Okamoto, Luke Weaver, Seranthony Dominguez, Fairbanks, Mahle. 

So basically they all think the Cubs add one starter and at least one reliever but don't address offense among the top guys on the market.

They predict Tucker getting 11/400.

Edited November 7, 2025 by Post Count Padder

[mk49]

Thanks for the link.  Here's Fan Graphs version.  They don't say which team will likely pick them, though.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-top-50-mlb-free-agents/

[Rcal10]

36 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

MLBTR dropped their top FA list and predictions:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/2025-26-top-50-mlb-free-agents-with-predictions.html

 

They have the Cubs in on (there are 4 writers that each pick where they think the player will go): Framber, Ranger Suarez, Imai, Woodruff, Okamoto, Luke Weaver, Seranthony Dominguez, Fairbanks, Mahle. 

So basically they all think the Cubs add one starter and at least one reliever but don't address offense among the top guys on the market.

They predict Tucker getting 11/400.

Of that group if they ended up with Framber, Okamoto and Fairbanks it wouldn’t be a bad FA off season. Imai, Woodruff and Saurez would be fine too. But I think Woodruff will probably be back with the Brewers. 

[Bertz]

Gut feeling is we're looking at something like this:

- Shota accepts his QO

- Jed circles back to the conversations he had last summer and pulls down a cost controlled starter in the Gore/Ryan/Cabrera neighborhood

- Add a RHH bat in the $10-15M AAV range.  Maybe that's Okamoto, maybe that's a trade for Taylor Ward, maybe that's Paul Goldschmidt

- Sign a second tier FA closer.  Robert Suarez, re-signing Brad Keller, etc.

- Something a bit surprising or weird a la the Matt Boyd signing last winter.  Cody Ponce?

- Trade for a late inning reliever.  Maybe one stop shopping and add Jose Ferrer into a Mack Gore trade or Ronny Henriquez into an Edward Cabrera trade?

- Just a laughable number of small trades and waiver roulette using all the open 40 man slots

[mk49]

Okamoto looks like much better fit to our team than Murakami.  He's a RHH, unlike Murakami, and he's supposed to be able to defend 1B, 3B and outfields, although I don't know how good he is defensively.  Offensively, his numbers look a little worse than Seiya, when he was in Japan.  Seiya was a little younger, when he came over, too.  

Out of those Japanese guys, I want Imai the most.  Seems like he could be No 2 guy in a rotation for many teams.

Yeah, maybe, we get lucky to find a SP like Shota in 2024 and Boyd in 2025.  

Yes, keep Keller.  Not sure if Robert Suarez will be too expensive for the Cubs, and he's getting old.  I hope Hodge will bounce back, and Palencia will perform well next year.

For other bullpen guys, maybe, they can find guys like Thielbar, Pomeranz, Keller type, if we're lucky.

Edited November 7, 2025 by mk49