MGriffin

Even pessimistic me is starting to get on board a little bit with this team. Signing Brasier seems like a great move. With Jed solidifying the bullpen, 90 or more wins is starting to seem achievable. My only gripe is the future - it seems like there's a lot of key players signed to 1 year deals. Will the Cubs be able to replace (or resign) them over the 2025/26 offseason to build a sustainable contender, or is this just Jed spending money and positioning the Cubs so that he gets an extension?

I too like the Berti signing, especially based on the price of the contract. Unfortunately I see him getting more at bats than you as Shaw struggles to adjust to MLB pitching. I hope that the team uses any remaining dollars to either bolster the starting rotation, a dominant reliever or lock up Tucker to a long term deal. I still have to squint and turn my head sideways to see the team, as currently assembled, getting above 90 wins.

There's no way Bregman comes to the Cubs. Not only is he a Boras client, but the Cubs would likely want to sign him to a 1 year deal. That's not going to happen. Grichuk seems like an overpay given the holes in the bullpen, 3B and uncertainty of some very good players who are not locked up to longer term deals. I'd rather see that money funneled into extending Steele a year or two. What about bringing in Justin Turner to start the season at 3B? Defense isn't going to be great here, but he still gets on base and could be a great mentor/platoon for Shaw and you get a similar WAR. If I'm Grichuk, I'm trying to parlay my performance of 2024 into a starting job (or a platoon, as you suggest), rather than a 5th outfielder spot.

I keep Canario and the guys in the farm over spending another $12M for an established vet who may not get enough playing time to maintain his timing and hit to the OPS of 800+ that you're looking for. Also, the future is important too. I'm not sure how the outfield will sort out over the next few years, but I could easily see Canario being flipped mid-season if he is successful, for a high-end bullpen piece. If he's not successful, that's also good information and next year you give Owen Caissie the same shot. Both of these guys are potential replacements for Happ or Tucker. It's valuable to have information about potential replacements before those two contracts end. To me, a 5th outfielder isn't normally known for their offense and in the case of the Cubs, probably doesn't have to be given the team's depth. We already have 3 (maybe 4) outfielders that can hit. Why not bring up Canario on the cheap, who has good speed, which gives CC another weapon to deploy in the end of a game and occasional spot start?

I appreciate the thought and analysis that went into this post and I agree with most of it. I worry a bit that we will get less WAR out of PCA and Busch as pitchers adjust to these hitters. I also see Hodge/Miller as a big question mark - they could end up being better than Azolay/Neris or end up as a black hole at the end of the game. What's the backup plan if they don't end up working out? I think we get a slightly improved WAR out of Dansby and a little less out of Nico as he'll be coming back from an injury to start the season. I think letting Tauchman go was also a mistake - whether he performed at the value of his contract or not. He was someone that kept Cubs fans talking and interested. I think about the hot seat that Jed is on and keep asking myself, is there another front office guy out there that would be better at getting the Cubs to the post-season? Nobody comes to mind. Jed seems to have a unique strategy for working within the budget that he has and I think it could work. I just wish he would shop a little less on the bargain basement aisle for position players like Barnhart, Mancini, Brujan, etc.