The Cubs are headed into an offseason that feels bigger than another round of roster tinkering. Another year passed, and once again Jed Hoyer’s group came up short of catching the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. That reality is driving the conversation in Chicago, even if Hoyer is staying put after signing a contract extension last summer.
Hoyer met with reporters last week, which only reinforced that he is not going anywhere right now. Still, if the Cubs are sitting in a similar spot in 2027, his situation could look a lot different.
The same general idea applies to Craig Counsell. Fans have pushed for a change there, but that would miss the larger issue with this team.
Counsell may not have delivered a successful tenure in Chicago, but he was not the main problem this season.
The real overhaul should come in other places, starting with the front office. Carter Hawkins is the clearest candidate to move on.
The Cubs hired him because of his background helping develop pitching with the Cleveland Guardians, but that edge has not translated in Chicago. Pitching development has fallen flat, and if the Cubs want a new voice, this is the simplest place to begin.
There is also a case for change on the coaching staff, specifically with Tommy Hottovy. He could remain as Counsell’s pitching coach, and his run with the Cubs has had more positives than negatives.
Even so, it is fair to question whether the staff has truly moved forward under his watch. If the Cubs are serious about changing their pitching approach, bringing in a new voice there would fit.
The biggest philosophical shift may be the hardest one. The Cubs have built an elite defense, and that part of Hoyer’s roster construction is working.
The issue is that he appears too locked into that model. Instead of targeting pitchers for the skills they bring on their own, the Cubs have leaned toward cheaper arms they hope can be polished by the defense behind them.
That does not mean they should stop looking for pitchers who induce groundballs. It does mean they need to value pitchers who can bring velocity and miss bats, not just fit neatly into the same template.
In Other News...
Cubs Face A Roster Squeeze That Could Reshape 2027
The Cubs are staring at a roster crunch that could turn the next few offseasons into a lot more complicated than usual. By the time the 2027 season arrives, as many as 18 players could be headed toward free agency, forcing the front office to think not just about talent retention but about which pieces fit the long-term plan and which ones are likely to price themselves out of the picture.
That conversation already reaches into some familiar names, from starting pitcher David Peterson to bullpen arm Aaron Civale and catcher Carson Kelly. Each brings a different kind of value and a different level of uncertainty, and the clubs decisions will come down to performance, cost and timing, even if the next move is still months or years away. For now, it is less a verdict than a preview of how quickly the Cubs roster could start looking different. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Harper Trade Talk Just Created A Phillies Offseason Debate
Philadelphias early postseason exit has kicked off the kind of offseason debate that tends to follow a disappointing October, with the Phillies openly facing the possibility of significant change. Among the ideas being discussed is a move that would have been hard to imagine not long ago: trading Bryce Harper, a scenario that has already sparked speculation about possible landing spots.
For Chicago, the fit is easy to understand on paper. The Cubs are among the clubs mentioned as possible partners because of their roster needs and ability to absorb money, and their own offseason picture only adds to the intrigue. With several key sluggers headed toward free agency, the Cubs could find themselves watching a star-caliber opportunity from a distance, even if no official talks have been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Could Find A Short-Term Lineup Fix In A Familiar Veteran
The Cubs are spending most of their offseason energy on the pitching staff, but the lineup could also use a little insurance if free agency thins out the corners of the order. If Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki wind up elsewhere, Chicago may have to patch more than one hole, and first base is one spot that could benefit from a short-term solution with some track record attached. A familiar name has surfaced as a possible fit: Paul Goldschmidt, a former MVP and seven-time All-Star who would bring a veteran presence as well as a potential platoon complement for Michael Busch.
Goldschmidt is 39 now, but the appeal for the Cubs is less about nostalgia than fit. His bat still plays well against left-handed pitching, which is exactly the sort of niche a contender can use when trying to deepen a bench and keep a lineup from getting too exposed. If Chicago decides it needs a stopgap rather than a long-term commitment at first base, Goldschmidt offers a clean baseball argument and a name that still carries real weight in a clubhouse built to win now. [Read more 🡒]