Are the Cubs Serious Contenders in 2025?

[@SetupManCubs]

What needs to be done during this offseason for the Cubs to be actual contenders in 2025?

[@rafaellopez5565]

Only game of the Cubs i have been was n 2003 when they came to Puerto Rico vs Expos. Prior started that game but we lost. My dream is to be in Wrigley, stay a night there or nearby and watch a couple of games, with my wife. Our kids are grown ups, therefore we would be by ourselves. She is learning to love the Cubs. I’ve been a Die hard Cubs fan from Puerto Rico since Dave Kingman’s tenure.

[@mango8918]

The Cubs are one of the most profitable teams in MLB. I'm tired of talking about what it takes to get into the playoffs. I want to see a serious discussion about what needs to be done to get to the World Series. Nothing more, nothing less. We need to load the team with pitching and bats. It seems that the Cubs have a lot of good players but not great players.

[@ttanne7838]

I would like to see the kids next. I'm ready to let the core go someplace else. way way to much money for the results.

[@ricklasse]

One of the things that needs to be done is to have better strength and conditioning coaches. If the 2024 team had been healthier this season, they may have made it to post season…even as a wild card. Happ, Hoerner, Swanson, Bellinger, Suzuki and the number of pitchers all had injuries that put them on the IL that had an effect in May and into June. Injuries might not be an issue when it’s limited to one or two players, but it becomes a factor when it’s the number of players that the Cubs had to put on the IL this season. And, the Cubs let four of the young guys play…Morel, PCA, Busch and Amaya. So, there’s going to be some growing pains when you have almost half the lineup with, pretty much, rookies. The Cubs need to improve by 2 games per month next season…if they can do that, they’ll be at 95 wins and then anything’s possible. I don’t see Owen Caissie or any of the other highly ranked Iowa talent coming up next year. Caissie is only 21 and he needs more time in AAA. Those guys will get their chances, but, not right now. Yes, the bullpen struggled, but they need to get better at clutch hitting.

[@rongbips024]

The Setup Fam

[@SetupManCubs]

Haha love that

[@johnnygraz4712]

So it looks like the main strategy for the Cubs next year is keeping you away from playoff games. 😛

[@peachesaranda0711]

They have many needs, but who will Jed part with? Wisdom, Madrigal, Smyly, Hendriks, Bellinger, and Mastro are just the beginning. If Cody decides to stay, it means more money down the drain. They can't acquire Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, or Vlad Jr. because they have Seiya, Michael, and Isaac to consider. Seiya has a no-trade clause, Michael is more affordable, and they just brought in Isaac. Luke Weaver or Emmanuel Clase are needed, along with strong hitters and another catcher who can also hit. In short, Jed has to let go of half the team, but he can't do it. This team is a complete mess, and I don't expect any changes next year.

[@born2run995]

You know and I know, in fact we all know the Cubs will not sign Soto. But we shouldn't let the Cubs off the hook when he eventually does sign with another team. I feel like the narrative that they won't be involved is acting like an excuse for them which they don't deserve. We all need to be upset and hold their feet to the fire as to why they won't act like the big market team they are. They should and could try to sign him but they won't and no superstar will want to come here anyway which should not be the case! They have created this mid market mentality and frankly I'm sick of it and hopefully everyone out in the podcast world and beyond needs to make them accounted for!

[@SetupManCubs]

Yes, it's super annoying, it's not fun watching a big market team not go after the big dogs. And there is the argument that Soto (by himself) wouldn't fix the team, and that's true, but when the Cubs signed Jon Lester (the biggest free agent at the time), they were coming off a losing season and had tons of prospects coming up the next year. So, if you compare it to that, they are in a similar spot. If Bellinger opts out, it becomes even more infuriating if they don't get involved.

[@peachesaranda0711]

Soto will not leave a winning team for a losing team, I said that before they made it to the playoffs and now WS. Ohtani wouldn't have came to Chicago, because he clearly said he wanted to go to a winning team. The Cubs are not a desirable team right now and Jed has real work to do.

[@williamfisher233]

Soto has honor and so won't consider signing for hoyer. No player with options will even seriously consider signing for a man who is known across the leage as honorless and shameful.

[@klip6440]

What they need most is a closer last year 26 blown saves convert 8-10 to wins and they are in playoffs.

[@michaelplowman8674]

This is a very important of season for me and my level of fandom. I know Soto is about as much a pipe dream as Ohtani, but I think the Cubs have to make whichever team gets him pay for him. I truly believe Soto signs for over 700M to set a new mark, which leads me to putting his numbers around 705M and 15 years, 47M AAV. The Cubs are projected to have about 53M before the CBT after projected arbitration. Now you just have to decide which guys on roster should be there for 25 and beyond. I don't see Bellinger or Hoerner as being there. Regardless of what Bellinger decides, he should be moved if he doesn't opt out. Those two would open up another 38M in money. Shaw needs to be handed the reigns for 2B. You mentioned that you think the Cubs could add an impact bat via trade. Any idea who the target would be? I could see exploring Vlad Jr though that would make Michael Busch a probable piece sent back as he'd have little place on the team then. A FA option could be Teoscar Hernandez. The knife's edge comes with the pen. I think they should go after Tanner Scott and otherwise try to fill from within. After that, it's bring in one of the top FA starters and hope for health and chemistry.

[@timad11]

Jen likes to use the Weather at Wrigley Field last year as an excuse for the offense being pathetic. However, that fact is conveniently forgotten when they are bragging about how well some the pitchers did. That should be taken into account as well.

[@Gnar_Dogg]

It's possible for them to be a playoff contender in 2025. But it's going to rely heavily on the guys on the current roster outperforming their projections. Hoyer really put himself in an awful spot having so many guys locked into contracts. It's going to take some creative moves to make some clear upgrades to the roster. An that's why I said it'll heavily be reliant on overperformance yet again. Cubs blew 26 saves in 2024. 17 of which came before the all star break. If they managed to lock down 7 of those they'd have been in the postseason. An as for the current world series I'm really uninterested.

[@Andrew_-nr7zt]

Idk the cubs just have to make the right decisions during the offseason but not only that they just need a change in philosophy and I can’t emphasize this enough Jed and the front office have to spend money if they plan to contend next year and onwards but not only that they need to develop the young players and learn how to turn them into superstars because so far the few I can see becoming superstars for us are Matt Shaw, PCA, Owen Cassie, and Cade Horton (when healthy) I would put Cam Smith up there with how well he’s done and how fast he’s been promoted but need to see more from him

[@DerbyKnowledge93]

Cubs need 1 or 2 starters. Candidates. Buehler, Burner, Fried, Bieber, Sasaki. With Cam Smith on the way (hopefully) in a year or 2, and Matt Shaw and Caissie ready to get a chance to play every day, something has got to give. Hopefully Bellinger opts OUT. Hoerner and/or Suzuki and Paredes are trade candidates. Cubs need a few for the bullpen, but mostly they need 2 solid starters. And GOOD ones.

[@SetupManCubs]

You nailed it on this one. As much as we hate to think of trading Nico, his value is high, and I think the upside of Shaw is much higher

[@MarkusStottrup]

cubs should look into bryan woo or bryce miller. Maybe they can swap nico and prospects for one of them

[@timad11]

As is? Not even close. We will see how serious they are in the off-season about trying to win next year. My hopes are not high

[@timad11]

One of the ways to help the bullpen is to get a top flight starter, which would knock everybody back a spot and give you more possibilities to go down to the pen. But I agree with the video that they need to secure the bullpen as well. There’s no excuse not to.

[@EnolaK]

Pipe Dream Offseason Free Agents - (Corbin Burnes or Fried), Bieber, Tanner Scott. Bellinger will opt in and im not opposed. Moises & Amaya is a good battery. Letting him develop behind Amaya or trade for servicable short term Platoon Catcher Trade Nico, Assad, Alcantara, & a prospect for Vladdy. Trade Smyly & Brennan Davis for a backup Catcher Burnes, Steele, Imanaga, Tailon, Bieber - (Wicks & Horton) (Tanner Scott, Hodge, Lopez, Miller, Brown, Roberts, Thompson, (Wicks, Horton) 1B - Vlad Jr 2B - Busch SS - Swanson 3B - Peredes RF - Bellinger CF - PCA LF - Happ C - Amaya DH - Seiya (Platoon C , Madrigal, Tauchman, Wisdom ,Vazquez)

[@Aetnaboy73]

We're close. we just have to make a couple of good moves this off-season.

[@williamfisher233]

jed will only make more harmful and shameful decisions.

[@josephhall657]

Right now no. They would have to go out of Jed:s comfort zone to become legit contenders. Paredes is a dead pull hitter. It don't work with the wind driving in most games. But dealing to Boston to get Devers back ups his value with the close wall in left. Devers is due ,30M per for a while and will take a haul to pull off. Seeing how Boston is in it for 2025 I would offer Paredes, Hoerner and Brown. That nets one core hitter. They also need a 2nd core hitter. A's most likely are going to deal Rooker and he is ideal as a 4 hitter behind Devers. Position really matters less as you just think about scoring runs early and having a bench that can up the D late game I would go deep and target Miller also. Give up some long term control talent. Horton, Caissie, Shaw etc would be on the table. I fear losing less here as Miller has said that he would be open to starting again and that kind of arm you max out value. Add to it extending Rooker is a strong play. Then sign Burnes on a multi. Then German on a 1 year. Team on paper should be a top 3 team in baseball.

[@G2mxrZ]

Sell the team ASAP.

[@MichaelBoldyga]

Hoyer has misspent the Cubs right out of contention for years to come with the Swanson contract being the centerpiece of wasteful spending . If he was an impact player it wouldn't have been that bad but he's far from that and for the money they gave him they could have gotten an elite closer and fixed the 3rd base problem which still exists but they're saddled with that contract for 5 more years . This team has no stars at all , Happ is no star and he's no leadoff hitter either and that's another hole on this team . Hoerner and Busch are OK players but not stars and if Bellinger opts out you lose a guy that can play 1st base plus all 3 outfield spots . How do you replace that with one guy ? The catching situation stinks . They couldn't wait to get rid of Contreras and Caratini before him and ended up with the worst catcher in baseball . How do they do things like this ? The Cubs as a team is just a collection of players . No stars and definitely no superstar . Under Hoyer this won't change and chances are with Ricketts it might never change because after 2016 there's been a refusal to add any big name stars while they've shipped off any big name players the still had , Schwarber Darvish and Rizzo being prime examples . They've passed on countless star free agents , Harper Machado Soto and others . Ricketts seems content to let his team wallow in mediocrity under Hoyer and the fans continue to line his pockets . GO CUBS GO ! examples

[@YodersCustomWoodWorking]

Fire Hoyer

[@williamfisher233]

Not even close. Not with hoyer and council in charge. The rebuild is permanent with the Curse of Cutthroat Jed. Worst and most honorless executive in sports.

[@jamespullos8027]

Why would anybody give their loyalty to this total trainwreck, they are just not a serious team

[@ashleyjessee5953]

Shout out to the women listening!

[@SetupManCubs]

@@ashleyjessee5953 📣 hell yeah!

[@Mark-ph5nh]

Certainly not! The Cubs are a team managed like a circus by Tom the Bozo. The current roster has been a disappointment for the past two years. The management has repeatedly misled the fans while charging high prices for game attendance. With players like Dansby, Heyward, Nico, Wisdom, Smyly, Hendricks and Bote leading, the team has faced continuous setbacks. Baseball can be dull without a team to support. As for the Dodgers or Yankees? No interest. I'd prefer to see the Cubs in the World Series, as they were in 2016.

[@SetupManCubs]

It's definitely been frustrating

[@Mark-ph5nh]

@@SetupManCubs sorry for venting here but been following the Cubs since Dave Kingman era. 😂