The Cubs are heading toward a November that could move fast, and that speed is exactly what makes this offseason dangerous.
With the current CBA set to expire on December 1, the market may not unfold like a normal winter. Jim Bowden of The Athletic is already laying out the top free agents available, and the expectation is that plenty of business gets done before the calendar flips.
For a front office like Jed Hoyer’s, that kind of compressed timeline can create pressure to act. It can also lead teams into paying for the wrong player.
That’s the trap the Cubs need to avoid.
Chicago should have needs in the outfield and on the mound, but urgency alone is not a reason to hand out a bad contract or chase a familiar name. There are a few free agents who could look appealing in the rush, yet still make little sense for the Cubs.
Ian Happ is one of them. Even with Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw already on the roster, the Cubs are still likely to be shopping for a veteran outfielder.
If Seiya Suzuki ends up priced near the top of the market, it’s easy to see why a short-term Happ reunion might come up. It shouldn’t.
Happ has slid into platoon duty in what should be his final year in Chicago, and the Cubs would be better off moving on.
The same caution applies on the pitching side. Casey Mize is a name the Cubs previously had interest in, and that kind of past connection can become more tempting when the market starts moving quickly.
But since his trade to the San Diego Padres, Mize has posted a 6.67 ERA across six starts. That’s not the kind of profile that should push Chicago into a hasty decision.
Colin Rea also fits the category of a player whose value has to be judged carefully. He has helped the Cubs’ pitching staff over the past two seasons, but after the trade deadline Craig Counsell has mostly used him in mop-up work.
The numbers back up the caution: Rea has a 4.45 ERA over 129 innings with a 4.81 FIP. The Cubs should decline his club option and move on.
Then there’s Randy Arozarena, who could surface as a possible answer for either Happ or Suzuki. He’s put together a big season, carrying a 144 wRC+ with 22 home runs in 576 plate appearances.
In 2026, he has produced the best year of his career, and that kind of performance is going to bring a strong payday. The problem for the Cubs is simple: if they’re willing to meet that price, they might as well pay Suzuki.
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