Led by All-Star starters Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs are in an excellent place to return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2020. Their place participant combine might use some tweaks, however the crew’s precedence will likely be its battered rotation.
Jed Hoyer has had the highest chair within the Cubs’ baseball operations division since Theo Epstein stepped down in November 2020. Hoyer was the quantity two man in Epstein’s entrance workplace earlier than that, after he’d led the Padres’ entrance workplace for 2 years. He is performed a big half for “purchase mode” contenders throughout many commerce deadlines and has been unafraid to maneuver prospects and good younger gamers. Hoyer despatched a robust “all-in” message in December by buying and selling final yr’s first rounder Cam Smith together with three years of Isaac Paredes and 5 of Hayden Wesneski for one yr of Kyle Tucker.
Hoyer is within the final yr of a five-year contract with the Cubs, so it’s kind of odd to have him making long-term selections for the franchise together with his personal future unsure. Again when Epstein stepped down, he stated, “The group faces many selections this winter that carry long-term penalties; these sorts of selections are finest made by somebody who will likely be right here for a protracted interval moderately than for only one extra yr.” Maybe an extension for Hoyer is forthcoming. For now, I am positive, his focus is on shoring up the first-place Cubs for a deep playoff run.
Document: 54-36 (94.6% playoff likelihood)
Purchase Mode
Potential wants: Two beginning pitchers, beginning third baseman, lefty-mashing first baseman, common reduction assist
With Jameson Taillon on the IL into August resulting from a calf pressure, the Cubs’ rotation is down to 2 dependable established Main Leaguers: Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd. Anticipated ace Justin Steele is out for the season resulting from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Taillon nonetheless figures to be a part of the playoff image for the Cubs. Colin Rea and Cade Horton are within the rotation at current, and Ben Brown made 14 begins earlier than being optioned in late June. Veteran Chris Flexen made 30 begins final yr. Jordan Wicks received the decision 4 days in the past however could also be utilized in a protracted reduction position. Javier Assad, who began 29 video games final yr, has been coping with an indirect harm all season. It isn’t clear what the Cubs will get from him in 2025.
There are sufficient rotation choices available to get by the common season, however the aim is to win the World Sequence. Boyd, the Cubs’ All-Star lefty, is 34 years previous and hasn’t shouldered a full workload since 2019. This crew wants so as to add two beginning pitchers, together with not less than one who can begin a playoff recreation.
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