The Cubs had a stable season in 2025 nevertheless it got here to an finish on Saturday after they dropped Gave 5 of the Division Collection to the Brewers. That turns the main target to the offseason and a few upcoming selections. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer held an end-of-season press convention yesterday however largely averted tipping his hand about something. Reporters corresponding to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic and Jordan Bastian of MLB.com offered dispatches from the presser.
Kyle Tucker’s impending free company will likely be a giant storyline this winter and Hoyer offered some boilerplate feedback about making an attempt to retain the participant. “Everybody can use a man like Kyle Tucker. Everybody will get higher by having a participant like that,” Hoyer stated. “We’ll definitely be having these conversations.”
The Cubs clearly assume extremely of Tucker. Again in December, they gave up Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith with a view to purchase Tucker’s ultimate yr earlier than free company. They noticed Tucker close to his finest for some time. He slashed .291/.395/.537 by way of the tip of June for a 157 wRC+ whereas stealing 20 bases.
However his outcomes tapered off because the season went alongside. A finger fracture suffered in early June didn’t instantly sluggish him down however appeared to meet up with him ultimately. A calf pressure additionally popped up later within the season. From July by way of the tip of the season, Tucker slashed simply .225/.348/.342 for a 103 wRC+. He had a .259/.375/.370 line and 118 wRC+ within the postseason.
Regardless of the tepid end, Tucker has proven remarkably well-rounded manufacturing when wholesome and may nonetheless be in excessive demand this winter. From 2021 to the current, he has a mixed .277/.365/.514 line and 143 wRC+. He stole 105 bases in there with sturdy defensive grades, although the glovework appears to be trending down. FanGraphs credited him with 23.4 wins above alternative, making him one of many ten most beneficial place gamers in that stretch.
Although he’s limping in the direction of free company, it’s nonetheless potential Tucker’s market will likely be sturdy sufficient that he may safe one thing like a ten-year, $400MM deal. The Cubs may do this, in a way. They’re a big-market membership and their future payroll is kind of clear, with Dansby Swanson the one man actually locked in past 2026. Nonetheless, they would wish to shatter precedent, as the most important contract in franchise historical past is Jason Heyward’s $184MM deal from a decade in the past.
One different man who’s technically on the books past 2026 is left-hander Shota Imanaga, due to his convoluted contract. Within the subsequent few weeks, it is going to be decided if he stays on the books or not. The Cubs will quickly must resolve whether or not or to not set off a three-year, $57.5MM membership possibility for the 2026-28 season. In the event that they flip that down, Imanaga has a $15.25MM participant possibility for 2026. If he triggers that, after 2026, the Cubs must resolve on a two-year, $42.5MM membership possibility. If that’s turned down, Imanaga would get one other $15.25MM participant possibility.
Hoyer technically responded to a query about Imanaga yesterday however with out actually answering something. “After we signed Shota, for those who’d proven us his manufacturing during the last two years, we might have taken that in a heartbeat,” Hoyer stated. “So not solely has he produced for us, however he’s only a nice teammate and terrific asset to the group. Clearly we now have selections to make and discussions to (have). Over the following two or three weeks we’ll do this, however I’ve received nothing however constructive issues to say about Shota.”
After Imanaga’s MLB debut in 2024, the membership possibility appeared like a no brainer. He posted a 2.91 earned run common over 29 begins. Regardless of his fastball averaging simply 91.7 miles per hour, he was capable of strike out 25.1% of batters confronted and solely gave out walks 4% of the time. However his outcomes backed up right here in 2025. As he averaged simply 90.8 mph on his fastball, he posted a 3.73 ERA with a 20.6% strikeout charge and 4.6% stroll charge. That features a tough second half with a 4.70 ERA.
Since Imanaga is now 32 years outdated and his traits aren’t nice, it’s potential the Cubs might look to stop whereas they’re forward. Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon and Cade Horton could have spots in subsequent yr’s rotation. Horton completed the season on the injured listing on account of a rib fracture however is wholesome now. He truly would have been on the NLCS roster if the Cubs had superior, per Bastian. Justin Steele will likely be again from his UCL surgical procedure in some unspecified time in the future. Colin Rea could be retained through a $6MM membership possibility, which has a $750K buyout. Guys like Ben Brown, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks will likely be within the combine.
Subtracting Imanaga from the group would additional skinny out a bunch that already seems missing. Alternatively, including Imanaga again in there would depart the rotation feeling respectable however missing in upside. There’s an argument that they need to flip down their possibility and use the cash saved to pursue extra of a front-of-rotation arm. This winter’s free agent market will function guys like Framber Valdez, Dylan Stop, Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suárez and others. The commerce market may function MacKenzie Gore, Joe Ryan, Sonny Grey and others.
As for the teaching workers, Hoyer famous they’d all be invited again. That makes it potential the Cubs face minimal turnover this winter nevertheless it’s additionally potential some staffers get poached by different golf equipment. There are eight managerial vacancies and bench coach Ryan Flaherty has already been linked to some of them. As soon as these new managers are employed, they may possible have some skill to make teaching selections. That ought to result in plenty of teaching musical chairs this winter, so time will inform if that impacts anybody with the Cubs.
Picture courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel, Imagn Pictures
