No matter how the Cubs’ 2026 season ends, the front office is not expected to look all that different when the offseason begins. Jed Hoyer got a contract extension last summer, Craig Counsell is staying put, and the current setup has enough stability that a shake-up would have to come from somewhere else.
That somewhere else could be Carter Hawkins.
Hawkins does not appear to be pushing his way out of Chicago, and that matters. Even with the GM title, the power structure is clear: Hoyer makes the final calls on baseball operations.
And while the Cubs have slipped recently, they’ve still spent the last two seasons in the conversation as one of the National League’s better teams. That kind of arrangement is hard to walk away from.
Still, there’s a growing case that the Cubs have settled into a front office model that needs a new jolt. The team has not won a division title under this group, and the roster-building has had some obvious flaws over the past couple of seasons. If a fresh voice is going to arrive, this offseason may be the best chance.
FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that Hawkins has been a rising name for front office openings over the past year, and that trend is expected to continue this offseason. Murray’s read is that Hawkins has reached the point in his career where the next step is running a front office of his own.
That lines up with the broader movement around baseball over the last few months. The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels have both moved on from their general managers, which creates more chances for a candidate like Hawkins to get a shot.
The Astros, though, may not be the cleanest fit. Owner Jim Crane has plenty of influence there, along with his own people in the baseball operation, so it would still be a setup where Hawkins would answer to someone above him.
The Angels also don’t look like an obvious escape hatch, especially with a growing belief that John Mozeliak will stay with the organization. Leaving the Cubs just to report to another executive above him would not make much sense.
Even so, Hawkins should have options. At the very least, he could be in line for a general manager job where he would finally be the one calling the shots.
For the Cubs, that may be the only real path to the change they need.
In Other News...
Cubs May Have Found A Crucial Bullpen Answer For The Stretch Run
The Cubs got a late-season bullpen boost when they activated Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list and made it clear hell work out of relief for the rest of the year. His return comes at a useful time for a club trying to steady the back end of games, and it also gives Craig Counsell another option as the pennant race tightens up.
Trent Thornton landing on the injured list with left ankle soreness opened a spot, but Cabreras arrival is the bigger development for Chicagos immediate plans. Counsell sounded encouraged about what the right-hander can bring in this role, and the Cubs will spend the stretch run finding out whether this is the kind of bullpen answer that can matter when every game starts to feel a little more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Tough Spencer Strider Question This Offseason
The Cubs have been paying close attention to the pitching market under Jed Hoyer, and that means keeping an eye on every creative path other clubs explore to solve a rotation problem. Atlantas willingness to discuss Spencer Strider in a possible deal for Jacob deGrom did not go unnoticed in Chicago, especially for a team that has built a reputation for looking for unconventional ways to address pitching needs.
Striders appeal is obvious, but so are the questions around him, from his injury history to the uncertainty created by his recent performance. The Braves would also be asking for a significant return, and that is where the Cubs run into the real difficulty of matching the price. A trade involving Strider this offseason is not out of the question, but Chicago may have a hard time finding itself in the center of it. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Need One More Strong Showing Before Atlanta Comes To Wrigley
The Cubs head into their meeting with the Pirates at Wrigley Field with much of the lineup intact, looking to carry over the same rhythm that has fueled them over the last two games. Chicago has scored 16 runs in that stretch and limited Pittsburgh to five, a useful sign as the club tries to keep its offense moving before Atlanta arrives on the North Side.
Matthew Boyd gets the start after another strong outing, and hell be opposed by Bubba Chandler, a right-hander who leans on his fastball and likes to work to contact. The Cubs have already seen enough from Boyd to trust the matchup, and there is at least some history on their side, too, which makes this feel like the kind of game that could quietly set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]