SB in SC

I agree with you analysis on the roster. It appears to me as though the Cubs are not optimistic about the possibility of extending Nico unfortunately. If they were to extend him I can see them wanting to wait until after this year unless they could lower his cap number for this year. The Cubs do not appear to be high on Assad or Wicks and possibly to a lesser extent Brown, I would love to see them trade one of them for a bigger need on the roster for this year. Insurance for Alcantra would make me feel better in case of injuries.

I do not see the amount of money the Cubs spend as the primary issue. They are failing at developing and drafting of players. The Brewers in the last 5 years have been out spent by approximately 376 million dollars and have more wins.

I just can't blame everything on Counsell for losing this series. I do not think the Cubs were the better team. I would have preferred Rea start game 1 and start Boyd in game 2. Counsell stuck with his starters to the point that his bench did not have much of a chance, but his bench was not great. He exposed some bullpen guys by letting the Brewers see them too many times, but he did not have great options. I would have preferred to see Assad on the roster than Brown. (I think Brown could be a very good reliever, just not in 2025) I did not want to see Shota start game 5, and I did not want to see Brown or Civale pitch in game 5. Murphy left some pitchers in a batter too long that if those guys got hits today would be a very different story. Shaw did not hit, Happ had 1 big hit in 8 games, PCA played what is hopefully his worst playoffs, Dansby was not great with the bat. These are the questions that I have: If Hoyer was not in the last year of his contract would he have made the Tucker trade? Will he make another big trade to help the 2026 team? Why in the Athletic front office poll for the last two years did not one executive vote for the Cubs as a top organization? How will that be addressed? Will the Cubs shake up their core to get better? Will they spend on what they need or only spend on players if they are a good deal? I am more concerned with how the front office handles the off season than I am with Counsell's in game managing. I could be way off as well as I did not blame Ross as much as the front office either.

The unanswerable question is would Hoyer have handled this differently if he had not received the extension??

Probably in the minority, but I do not want to see the Cubs go all in to win this year. Some of the things happening this series we have seen coming and this series has thrown it in our face. Hoyer went outside of his comfort zone for the Tucker trade and made some other good moves to get this team into the playoffs this year. I do not see two moves that the Cubs could realistically make that to me would make them a favorite to get to the World Series. The current team is good and will earn a play off spot. They could get hot and win it all. I do not want to see the Cubs gut the farm system, lose in the first round, not resign Tucker and be bad for the next 5 years.

I was hoping to have him in the bullpen all year due to his lack of innings last year. I do not see the Cubs getting 150 innings out of him this year. I am going with the Cubs know their schedule is tough at the beginning and they want their best players on the field for the 1st month. They have a plan to limit his innings in the middle of the year so he can pitch late in the season.

Matt I love your articles but this is an interesting angle that you took on this one. You could have highlighted a couple young black players in the farm system that we hope to see great things from in the future. You could have looked at why the Cubs spend to their limit before having to pay the tax on Latin American international free agents every year, but those players are not making it to the MLB roster. You could have compared the programs MLB uses to create Black participation to the programs in the NBA or the NFL to create participation.

The angle of Ricketts selling the team is a good one that I had not thought of. If you look at how Hoyer has operated the last couple of years it makes more sense. Avoid long term contracts that have any potential risks, and no deferred money to players. The books are as clean as any team in baseball after 2026 with Dansby being the only large contract remaining. The Cubs making the playoffs this year get knocked out early and then lose Tucker and Pressley to me is not a successful season.

You were ahead of the news of the Cubs talking to Turner. Nice to be a step ahead of the Cubs Front Office Matt.

I agree that for 2025 he has to be a reliever. He only pitched 55 innings last year. Keep him in the back of the bullpen and let him pitch multiple innings in his outings. I am hoping that either he or Horton can be a big part of the bullpen at the end of the year. After Brown proves he can stay healthy and pitches more innings then consider moving him to the rotation in 2027 if ever.

Acquiring Tucker for 1 year for what the Cubs gave up was an attempt by Hoyer to save his job by making the playoffs. To me this move and trying to sign Tanner tells me that the Cubs at least have a chance to not only make the playoffs but also hopefully advance in them. There is a difference between building a team that can win enough games to make a playoff, and building a team that can advance in the playoffs.

He will be the best bench player in an uninspiring group. I would like to see at least a little power on the bench. But players like that normally sign later in the off-season like Berti. I hope that the Cubs get their relief pitcher sooner than later. Too many pitchers go to Spring training late and have bad years. Maybe the Cubs get lucky and Yates backs out of Dodger deal.

One of Craig Counsell's strengths with the Brewers was how he managed the starting staff when he did not have 5 strong starters by using piggyback starts and openers. He was also successful utilizing at least one great bullpen arm and for most of his tenure utilizing 2 great bullpen arms. I would think that if he was asked he would rather have a lock down closer than a middle of the rotation starter if money only allows one of the two. The Cubs paid him a lot of money to not get his opinion on things. (not that I know what his opinion is) In the playoffs Taillon or Assad as currently constructed would get 3 starts tops throughout the playoffs as the 4th starter. Dodgers 4th starter got 2 starts. Dodgers top two relievers got into 9 games each in the playoffs.

I think that you are correct about Kim being a better option because of his versatility. If Hoerner has a set back in his rehab or Dansby gets hurt Kim is a better option than the Cubs in house options. If the season started today the Cubs infield bench options are scary.

Great article on the possible starting pitching options I appreciate the way that you have laid all of the options out. I have read a lot about you can never have enough starting pitching depth, and that depth is what gets you to the playoffs. I would rather see the Cubs spend their energy on Tanner Scott or another closer. The Cubs blew 26 saves last year if a closer cuts that number to 12 they have 95 wins. I know I am getting ahead of myself here but the first playoff series you are only going to use 3 starters I would rather have a new closer and Hodge and someone else emerge and turn those games into 6 inning games.