Cubs 2025 Season Review/Offseason Preview Thread

[javy knows my name]

20 hours ago, Petrey10 said:

Bo Beckett is a great fit at 3b…. Sorry to bring it up again. But the bat and glove there plays great. 
 

and he’s available for just $$.

 

You mean Danny Beckett's son?

[Geographyhater8888]

11 hours ago, Stratos said:

Agreed.  Grab a solid vet or 2 for the 7th/8th innings to stabilize things a bit but otherwise go with cheap finds.  We saw what happened with Yates and Scott on the Dodgers this year. Pens are too volitile to spend a lot of money on, and lots of guys improve any given winter and you don't really know who will pop off.  Cubs method works with their budget.

They'll allocate that money to another position anyways.

Tanner Scott could bounce back next year and be that lockdown closer they paid him to be for all we know, much like Kimbrel for the Cubs in 2020-21. Not sure how this volatility will effect Keller or Palencia next season but at least they haven’t had the injury setbacks that derailed Alzaloy and Hodge. 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Petrey10]

2 hours ago, javy knows my name said:

You mean Danny Beckett's son?

Bichette damn auto correct lol

[Rcal10]

15 hours ago, Gjfificifjdej said:

Trust me you do not want to be a fan of a team with heavy salary commitments when a salary cap is instituted 

 

14 hours ago, Cuzi said:

What about being a fan of a team worried about salary commitments in preparation of a salary cap that isn't coming?

I think the scenerio that will play out here is Cuzi’s. I don’t see a salary cap coming. And I also agree that if it did come the teams over would be grandfathered in. I doubt they have to get to that number. Maybe they can’t add anyone until they get under, or maybe they lose draft picks too. But they won’t be forced to get rid of guys to get under, even if it did happen(which I doubt it does). Players will hate it. So what do they get to agree to it? Free agency after 4 years? And even if that is the case, who is spending if the cap is too low. With a cap has to be a floor. Which means some owners won’t like it for the cap and some for the floor. Just see way too many obstacles for a cap. 
Personally I think Ricketts knows there won’t be a cap. He is just using this as a reason not to spend money or sign long term contracts. 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Rcal10

[Cuzi]

Cap isn't going to happen because it's an absolute no from the players. Who has more to lose from a lockout? The players or the owners? The answer is the owners. We've gone down this path for decades. The owners would have to open up the books more than they currently do and come to an agreement on a cap based on revenue (not going to happen). The players would want a floor within spitting distance of that cap (not going to happen). It's just not going to happen.

[Rcal10]

43 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

Cap isn't going to happen because it's an absolute no from the players. Who has more to lose from a lockout? The players or the owners? The answer is the owners. We've gone down this path for decades. The owners would have to open up the books more than they currently do and come to an agreement on a cap based on revenue (not going to happen). The players would want a floor within spitting distance of that cap (not going to happen). It's just not going to happen.

I agree. Just don’t see even a narrow path they can walk to make it work. Players would need earlier free agency, more money early in a contract and the ceiling and floor would have to not be so far apart that small market teams wouldn’t spend. Of course, if that happens the small market teams won’t go for that deal. Really it is two sets of negotiations going on. Owners with owners (and then if that does actually happen, which I highly doubt) owners with players. Don’t see it happening. TBH I don’t see owners even agreeing to it. As soon as the small market owners put a ceiling in I am sure the higher spending teams will put a floor in. That is where the idea will stop. 

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, Cuzi said:

Cap isn't going to happen because it's an absolute no from the players. Who has more to lose from a lockout? The players or the owners? The answer is the owners. We've gone down this path for decades. The owners would have to open up the books more than they currently do and come to an agreement on a cap based on revenue (not going to happen). The players would want a floor within spitting distance of that cap (not going to happen). It's just not going to happen.

The owners are floating a cap because this round of negotations they're the ones on the defensive.  The league wants to make radical changes to centralize broadcast rights.  The league wants to kick off expansion.  The players want...incremental improvements to things like the luxury tax limit?

The owners are talking about the salary cap so that they can "settle" for status quo plus favorable terms on those two hot items.  It's super transparent.

[Stratos]

What the owners or players want is irrelevant, only thing that matters is what leverage either has vs the other and what terms they're able to acquire with it.  Agree with Bertz, negotiation 101 is you start your demands with the best imaginable scenario for yourself and work your way down from there.

I do think the vast majority of teams want to stop what the Dodgers have been able to do.  I could see a higher tax penalty on the higher payroll tiers, so not a cap but something creeping a bit more that way.

Edited October 26, 2025 by Stratos

[CubUgly]

On 10/24/2025 at 3:53 PM, squally1313 said:

Yeah, which, if anything, is probably just going to lead to them leaning harder into their castoff plan. I've given up trying to solve the bullpen. It's the BABIP of roster construction. 

No doubt, the other guy I really wanted was Yates, the Dodgers got him too and he was equally as bad. Shows you what I know and how volatile relief pitching is. 

 

  I agree the FO will now double down and the dumpster diving. I do think Zombro brings something to the table - he was pimping Keller in early March and I do think he's got a feel for identifying guys who may be able to help and put them in position to,

 

 

[Longhorn20]

On 10/22/2025 at 10:03 PM, Stratos said:

If any of the rookie bench candidates needs regular PA's in Iowa instead of rotting on the bench it's probably Alcantara.  There's virtually no playing time in the OF unless there's injury or Seiya is DH.

If they spend any money on a FA OF bench guy it's probably more geared to someone who can DH as RHB (or push Seiya to DH).  Cubs had some struggles vs LHP so I'd be ok getting FA RHB at both bench 1B and bench OF/DH who can smash LHP.  Or vs LHP Alcantara could start in RF and Seiya at DH, while vs RHP it's Seiya + Caissie or Ballesteros (can't see both as LHB being rostered with a 4-man bench).

You're right in that it's unlikely Jed makes bets on 2 rookies in Long/Alcantara to be able to smash LHP, it's too risky, especially with so many young players already in the starting lineup.

Dang. I was hoping for a Series sweep so we could get on with the signing and trading.

[Cuzi]

43 minutes ago, Longhorn20 said:

Dang. I was hoping for a Series sweep so we could get on with the signing and trading.

What's the rush? Nothing significant will likely happen til December.

[Backtobanks]

2 hours ago, Cuzi said:

What's the rush? Nothing significant will likely happen til December.

Hopefully something significant will happen.

[Rcal10]

2 hours ago, Cuzi said:

What's the rush? Nothing significant will likely happen til December.

 

8 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

Hopefully something significant will happen.

I was going to say the same thing. But I think he meant baseball wise nothing significant happens until December. Doesn’t mean it will have Cubs significance. As you said, hope something significant, Cubs related move(s), will happen. 

[Cuzi]

15 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

Hopefully something significant will happen.

There's typically at least one big move made by then.

If we are talking strictly about the Cubs, I'm sure Hoyer will spend a significant amount of money on a collection of mediocre parts. Fingers crossed for our 2nd 9 figure contract. Pretend to try. I believe we can do it!

Edited October 29, 2025 by Cuzi

[Dfan25]

This will be the waiver claims offseason with all the 40 man roster spots they will have available .  Prepare for an annoying number of them 😁

[Backtobanks]

5 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

 

I was going to say the same thing. But I think he meant baseball wise nothing significant happens until December. Doesn’t mean it will have Cubs significance. As you said, hope something significant, Cubs related move(s), will happen. 

Hoyer has to wait it out until prices drop and good players are gone.

[Derwood]

1 hour ago, Backtobanks said:

Hoyer has to wait it out until prices drop and good players are gone.

He has to wait for players to use his offer as leverage to get more money from other teams

[Bertz]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6761320/2025/10/29/chicago-cubs-craig-counsell-staff-changes/

Cubs have only lost one guy on the coaching staff.  Alex Smith who did some of the game prep planning work.  Sounds like they're bracing to lose Ryan Flaherty as well (I've read elsewhere he's the favorite for the Padres job).  

Nice to finally have some consistency eith the hitting group.

[Bertz]

https://www.thecubreporter.com/cubs-40-man-roster

Some Arizona Phil things IMO worth noting, mostly with regard to minor league options

- Alcantara does have one more option (Phil has maintained this since last year, but it doesn't show up everywhere)

- Eli Morgan apparently has another option remaining (I could have sworn he only had one coming into the year)?  Makes the decision to keep him much easier.  Gavin Hollowell also received an extra one, so I'd expect him to hold onto his 40 man spot as well

- Javier Assad somehow still has two option years remaining?  Nominally increases his value

- I don't think any of these ones are surprises. but all of Roberts, Neely, Hodge, and Little have at least one option remaining.  So expect them to survive any 40 man purge events over the next few months as well

- Ben Brown only has one option, while Wicks and (as mentioned above Assad) each have two.  Doesn't force any drastic decisions, but if youre going to go into ST expecting one of these guys to take the long relief role, it does give Brown a slight leg up IMO

[Dfan25]

So I  was reading one of the front page articles , and it says the Cubs are unlikely to offer Imanaga a QO ( according to sources ) , if it gets to that point .

I am a bit surprised if this is true . Hoyer is more of a higher AAV , than a years guys . I think he would be ok with 1 / 22 .  The AAV is a bit high , but i prefer they do that instead of locking for 3 more years .

[Bertz]

47 minutes ago, Dfan25 said:

So I  was reading one of the front page articles , and it says the Cubs are unlikely to offer Imanaga a QO ( according to sources ) , if it gets to that point .

I am a bit surprised if this is true . Hoyer is more of a higher AAV , than a years guys . I think he would be ok with 1 / 22 .  The AAV is a bit high , but i prefer they do that instead of locking for 3 more years .

I'd be very surprised.  That said If this ends up being the case I'd expect it means one or both of these things:

- Imanaga at 1/22 is solid value in a vacuum, but Jed wants to open up the roster spot so that he can REALLY beef up the rotation.  Right now we're wondering of he's going to make a trade or sign someone of consequence.  If Shota leaves he can do both.  Even if he's not shopping at the very top of the market, he could do something like Sandy Alcantara and Shane Bieber and quickly remake the rotation

- Shota is very likely to accept the qualifying offer if it's given, and that would mean 3/5s of the rotation (along with Boyd and Taillon) are all set to hit free agency together next winter.  I could understand not wanting to voluntarily put yourself in that situation

[Dfan25]

As expected , some of the bigger names have started to opt out of deals . Diaz , Suarez / Bregman all free agent now..

I do wonder if the Cubs would consider going bigger in the bullpen , considering they are coming off  a playoff year , and on paper looks difficult to add in a meaningful way on position players ?

 

I know they aren’t signing Diaz , but an older guy like Suarez or trying to buy low on Devin Williams ERA ?  Williams also has the Counsell connection as well . 
 

If they don’t pick up Kittredge , I think the possibility they go with a bigger bullpen move increases . 

[chibears55]

Pete Alonso opted out

Be a nice addition for DH and RH bat for 1B if they continue to sit Busch against lefties 

[chibears55]

My offseason wish list is simple...

I'd like them to add a TOR SP, a late inning reliever whether it a closer or setup guy doesn't matter, and a solid everyday bat.

 

[CubinNY]

18 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Pete Alonso opted out

Be a nice addition for DH and RH bat for 1B if they continue to sit Busch against lefties 

Cubs are not going to pay Alonso. I'd imagine he'll be pretty disappointed around February 1.