Question of the week: Are you ready to move on from Jed?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Given the general underperformance of the past several years - excepting last season, probably - are you ready to move on from Hoyer if the Cubs don't turn this season around?

[mul21]

That's a pretty huge if you've added as a condition there.  Assuming they don't right the ship ( aka, the vast majority of hitters on this team finish with a historically awful year for them), then yeah, I think moving on from Jed would be prudent, especially when you take into account how much of a quick makeover is possible with this team with all the FAs at season's end.  I have a hard time blaming him if the pitching is what ends up being the downfall because he built in about as much injury redundancy as you practically can in the offseason and his moves on that end were largely applauded around here and by pundits.

[731.4life]

Yes, and go hire someone from the Seattle's front office to replace Jed.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

1 hour ago, 731.4life said:

Yes, and go hire someone from the Seattle's front office to replace Jed.

  Because Seattle has had such a stellar year after huge expectations.

I don't particularly like Jed, but I have zero confidence they would find a good replacement. Unless Theo wants to come back.

[ToolDRT]

Yes. He’s the temu version of Theo, except he doesn’t have the same cojones. 

[Soul]

I’ve been ready for at least 2 years.  He was always just riding Theo’s coattails.  There was never an indication he could be successful building a champion.

[731.4life]

3 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

  Because Seattle has had such a stellar year after huge expectations.

I don't particularly like Jed, but I have zero confidence they would find a good replacement. Unless Theo wants to come back.

Personally, I think Seattle has done well with the draft over the last few years, particularly in the first rounds. I didn't mind the way the Cubs have drafted over the last few years, but I don't believe we have any legit or as they call "aircraft carriers" in the selections. We haven't done well in the 2nd round picks either recently. It seemed like drafting Ferris was a great selection, but he got traded.

There were two issues with the Cubs over the last few seasons. One, there's no true identity on how we are drafting players in the first round. Theo went with college hitters (Bryant, Schwarber, Happ, etc.), while Seattle has gone with college pitchers (Gilbert, Hancock, Kirby). We know what to expect when we watch Seattle on TV.

I don't like the future of the Chicago Cubs, I'll be honest. I think we're putting too much stock into defense particularly up the middle guys. For the bullpen, it's Palenica and then it's just a bunch of guys that we hope that can get outs, and that's been a problem for years. 

Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have good young starting pitchers that can light up the radar gun. Yes, I totally understand that selecting high up in the draft has awarded them that. But they have good farm systems now (along with MIL), which is something the Cubs don't have. So, the issue with the Cubs that being stuck in the middle of the MLB in 2022-2024 ish has hurt us a little bit, and we're paying for it. Not drafting well and not developing players adds insult to injury.

 

[bryzz0brist]

4 hours ago, ToolDRT said:

Yes. He’s the temu version of Theo, except he doesn’t have the same cojones. 

I persobally think jed had big ones to be the guy who got the rebuild started after theo kept put for too long. 

And i think jed has done a solid job and its not really his fault that our team is struggling to meet expectations, though bregman for the 2nd half of his career didnt make the most sense to me.  if we put a division winner on paper, that's what he job was and thats what we did.  tons of season left and i expect we'll right the ship or deal with some type of consequences.

[Outshined_One]

My problem is that Jed is a B grade general manager who'll get you above average teams with the resources ownership gives him and his replacement is likely to be someone roughly as good as he is.

Unless this team is willing to spend money when guys like Ohtani come along, you'll have a hard time finding an upgrade.

[Geographyhater8888]

12 hours ago, 731.4life said:

 

I don't like the future of the Chicago Cubs, I'll be honest. I think we're putting too much stock into defense particularly up the middle guys. For the bullpen, it's Palenica and then it's just a bunch of guys that we hope that can get outs, and that's been a problem for years. 

 

His best work has been acquiring young  controlled talent through trades like Palencia, PCA, Brown and Busch. 
He’s in a tough spot where he only has access to a fringe top 10 payroll without permission to exceed the LT and doesn’t have the small market perks of being awarded extra draft picks so this is the expected result. 
But any development from Shaw has been stalled with the Bregman contract. Instead of Cease he has $400+ million owed to 3 aging middle infielders. So if Bregman doesn’t start playing to the back of his baseball card, which is assuming a lot at age 32 then that’s a serious failure from the team’s projection models and you’re left with your top infield prospect/1st round pick blocked from his natural position. 
If this team wants to replenish their farm system then trading Ben Brown in the offseason, no matter how counterintuitive can bring in a haul of prospects if he keeps this up. I can’t say I’m confident in Swanson and Bregman playing at a high level for the remainder of their deals.

Edited Saturday at 03:03 PM by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

1 hour ago, Outshined_One said:

 

Unless this team is willing to spend money when guys like Ohtani come along, you'll have a hard time finding an upgrade.

Exactly that. There’s no real plan to create a true championship window, just sustained mid 80’s win talent much like the 2000’s whitesox with the hope of pulling a 2005 out of their ass. Unfortunately ownership is content with this so I’m not sure you’ll find much of an upgrade until their philosophy changes as an organization. 

[ToolDRT]

9 hours ago, bryzz0brist said:

I persobally think jed had big ones to be the guy who got the rebuild started after theo kept put for too long. 

And i think jed has done a solid job and its not really his fault that our team is struggling to meet expectations, though bregman for the 2nd half of his career didnt make the most sense to me.  if we put a division winner on paper, that's what he job was and thats what we did.  tons of season left and i expect we'll right the ship or deal with some type of consequences.

I’m not really sure that rebuild was his call. Remember, the cubs suffered “biblical” financial losses that season. And since all tom cares about is money…

 

My other argument would be he really doesn’t have the accomplishments to his name that justify such a long leash. Hes proven that (with more resources than the rest of the division) he can build a wildcard team in the new era of increased playoff spots. But I don’t think that’s what we should aspire to be. 
 

As others have said, I’m not sure the next guy would be much different. But I’d certainly like to find out at this point. 

[Wilson A2000]

The Cubs are right at the back end of pitching velocity since 2018. How can you not go out and get more hard-throwing pitchers knowing how important they are?

[Jason Ross]

12 hours ago, 731.4life said:

Personally, I think Seattle has done well with the draft over the last few years, particularly in the first rounds. I didn't mind the way the Cubs have drafted over the last few years, but I don't believe we have any legit or as they call "aircraft carriers" in the selections. We haven't done well in the 2nd round picks either recently. It seemed like drafting Ferris was a great selection, but he got traded.

There were two issues with the Cubs over the last few seasons. One, there's no true identity on how we are drafting players in the first round. Theo went with college hitters (Bryant, Schwarber, Happ, etc.), while Seattle has gone with college pitchers (Gilbert, Hancock, Kirby). We know what to expect when we watch Seattle on TV.

I don't like the future of the Chicago Cubs, I'll be honest. I think we're putting too much stock into defense particularly up the middle guys. For the bullpen, it's Palenica and then it's just a bunch of guys that we hope that can get outs, and that's been a problem for years. 

Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have good young starting pitchers that can light up the radar gun. Yes, I totally understand that selecting high up in the draft has awarded them that. But they have good farm systems now (along with MIL), which is something the Cubs don't have. So, the issue with the Cubs that being stuck in the middle of the MLB in 2022-2024 ish has hurt us a little bit, and we're paying for it. Not drafting well and not developing players adds insult to injury.

 

Huh? The Cubs have drafted really well outside of the 1st round. Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley and Jackson Ferris have all logged top-100 rankings at one point or another and Ferris was used to bring in Michael Busch. Don't forget 2026 non-1sts like Josiah Hartshorn (popping on top-100s already) and Kaleb Wing (off to a flying start). There's also Zyhir Hope (top-50) traded for Busch and Jonathon Long as deep-picks. Brooks Caple is off to a great start this year, too. Don't forget Cam Smith being used for a full year of Kyle Tucker, Matt Shaw and Cade Horton (first round picks) as well. 

I get people want to blame Hoyer right now (I'm not inclined to say this is as much on him as the players) but his drafting and specifically the people who's been chosen to be around him to ensure good picks, is not one of them. There are legitimate gripes I can understand, this however, isn't a top-20 issue.

[Soul]

6 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

Huh? The Cubs have drafted really well outside of the 1st round. Jaxon Wiggins, Kane Kepley and Jackson Ferris have all logged top-100 rankings at one point or another and Ferris was used to bring in Michael Busch. Don't forget 2026 non-1sts like Josiah Hartshorn (popping on top-100s already) and Kaleb Wing (off to a flying start). There's also Zyhir Hope (top-50) traded for Busch and Jonathon Long as deep-picks. Brooks Caple is off to a great start this year, too. Don't forget Cam Smith being used for a full year of Kyle Tucker, Matt Shaw and Cade Horton (first round picks) as well. 

I get people want to blame Hoyer right now (I'm not inclined to say this is as much on him as the players) but his drafting and specifically the people who's been chosen to be around him to ensure good picks, is not one of them. There are legitimate gripes I can understand, this however, isn't a top-20 issue.

Where would you rank Hoyer among MLB teams, since he’s been alone without Theo?  Brewers have got to be near the top.

[Jason Ross]

30 minutes ago, Soul said:

Where would you rank Hoyer among MLB teams, since he’s been alone without Theo?  Brewers have got to be near the top.

I don't have a 1-30 ranking, but I'd grade him as "pretty good". He isn't perfect, I do think you *can* upgrade on him, but that most moves would be "lateral". Much of what people piss and moan about Hoyer can be said about others. And for his drawbacks, he rarely just sinks the Cubs or that they're watchable.

The Brewers are good, yes. Good reminder, though, David Sterns and Craig Counsell were considered the engine, both left and the Brewers have been just fine with both Sterns and Counsell haven't had the same success. So when we do these things, what we attribute to one person or another isn't always the case. 

[Andy]

14 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

I don't have a 1-30 ranking, but I'd grade him as "pretty good". He isn't perfect, I do think you *can* upgrade on him, but that most moves would be "lateral". Much of what people piss and moan about Hoyer can be said about others. And for his drawbacks, he rarely just sinks the Cubs or that they're watchable.

The Brewers are good, yes. Good reminder, though, David Sterns and Craig Counsell were considered the engine, both left and the Brewers have been just fine with both Sterns and Counsell haven't had the same success. So when we do these things, what we attribute to one person or another isn't always the case. 

We'll never know, of course, and I'm sure it's not so simplistic, but when he went and got Counsell, it sure seemed by the other moves that were made (and not made) that year that he thought taking Milwaukee's manager was just going to magically make us, and not them, the team getting the most out of every last nook and cranny of the roster. So much for that.

[jersey cubs fan]

[jersey cubs fan]

17 hours ago, Jason Ross said:

I don't have a 1-30 ranking, but I'd grade him as "pretty good". He isn't perfect, I do think you *can* upgrade on him, but that most moves would be "lateral". Much of what people piss and moan about Hoyer can be said about others. And for his drawbacks, he rarely just sinks the Cubs or that they're watchable.

The Brewers are good, yes. Good reminder, though, David Sterns and Craig Counsell were considered the engine, both left and the Brewers have been just fine with both Sterns and Counsell haven't had the same success. So when we do these things, what we attribute to one person or another isn't always the case. 

No reasonable person thought the manager was the engine 

 

they never are 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, jersey cubs fan said:

No reasonable person thought the manager was the engine 

 

they never are 

I don't disagree. However, I do think the amount of "reasonable" fans is pretty limited, especially at the point when Counsell was hired (fresh off a really rough month of September). 

The overall point is that simply swapping out a manager, or a VP of baseball Ops with someone who has had success isn't an immediate light switch or fix. Counsell was an easy Cubs-centric one, but David Sterns and the Mets is probably a better analogy to what might happen if the Cubs were, say, to can Jed Hoyer and then sign the guy running another successful organization. It doesn't mean it has to go badly, just that it isn't so simple.

[macarthur31]

From my vantage point, Jed seems to be very model driven - and then when opportunity presents itself, he'll make an assertive move.  For me, the Counsell signing was (and still is) great - he had an opportunity to upgrade at manager with someone who is philosophically aligned, and was proven to capably handle a clubhouse (and the serendipity that the Counsell had already a deep affinity for the franchise).  It's fascinating to me that there are these gripes about $8M a year being too much - but given there's no luxury tax penalty for signing staff, I don't get why people are so hung up on the price tag.

Jed isn't the perfect GM  - the Cubs have not been able to develop more homegrown TOR starters beyond Cade Horton, and they've been able to produce a power bat since they let Schwarber leave.  Perhaps it's oversimplification - he appears to hope to hit on more of high floor bets (where I'd put PCA for Baez) , rather than risky-ish swings (though he tried with Kyle Tucker walk year gambit, and were also-rans in the Ohtani derby).  Even extension for Nico and the Bregman contract are among the largest contracts in Cub history, but seem to be "sensible"/high floorish given their high defense, line-drive hitting approach and leadership intangibles.  This aside - I've seen the Cubs trend up during his term, and I look at how the Cubs farm this year seems to be producing some more names quickly as a good omen that overall the talent development pipeline is also moving in a good direction.

 

 

 

[bryzz0brist]

On 6/13/2026 at 7:30 AM, Geographyhater8888 said:

His best work has been acquiring young  controlled talent through trades like Palencia, PCA, Brown and Busch. 
He’s in a tough spot where he only has access to a fringe top 10 payroll without permission to exceed the LT and doesn’t have the small market perks of being awarded extra draft picks so this is the expected result. 
But any development from Shaw has been stalled with the Bregman contract. Instead of Cease he has $400+ million owed to 3 aging middle infielders. So if Bregman doesn’t start playing to the back of his baseball card, which is assuming a lot at age 32 then that’s a serious failure from the team’s projection models and you’re left with your top infield prospect/1st round pick blocked from his natural position. 
If this team wants to replenish their farm system then trading Ben Brown in the offseason, no matter how counterintuitive can bring in a haul of prospects if he keeps this up. I can’t say I’m confident in Swanson and Bregman playing at a high level for the remainder of their deals.

Looking at Bregman's fangraphs page, his zips projection give him a 3.1 war season this season (above average), a 2.1 war next season (average major leaguer) and then a drop to 1.3 war in 2028.   I think it was an overpay for a player who's realistically about 2/3 of the way done with his playing career and not really even expected to be worth the first half of the contract we've given him.   

i know signings can be tough and competitive and that Shaw is/was far from a 3b lock last offseason, but if we're looking at those same ZIPS projections, Shaw outplays Bregman in every season other than this one.  It's not that simple, i know, but Bregman seemed like a forced fit on the team somehow at that price point. 

[bryzz0brist]

Bottom line with how people see Jed - it's not how well he's played the team-building game, it's not about his offseason trade grades, it's not about what prospects or trades pan out,  it's the results we get at the end of the season (or as early as April for some) and not necessarily the quality of his work. 

Edited 10 hours ago by bryzz0brist

[bryzz0brist]

12 votes to move on and 1 vote to stay?  Wow

[Wilson A2000]

7 hours ago, bryzz0brist said:

12 votes to move on and 1 vote to stay?  Wow

When you outspend everyone else in the division, almost never win the division, and don’t have a particularly good farm system, why would anyone want to keep you?