Cubs Plan to Be Active Offseason, GM Meetings Provide Clues on Strategy.
The Chicago Cubs' offseason plans are shaping up to be an active one, according to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. While the exact budget isn't clear yet, Hoyer has given hints about the team's priorities and approach to free agency.
Pitching is at the top of the list for the Cubs, who will likely rely on short-term and minor league deals as well as smaller trades to bolster their bullpen. The team also needs more depth in starting pitching after left-hander Shota Imanaga decided not to pursue a qualifying offer. However, Hoyer has stated that finding "a win" is key, regardless of the position.
When it comes to offense, right fielder Kyle Tucker tops the free agent class, having put up impressive numbers with the Cubs last season before being sidelined by injury. While Hoyer wants to bring Tucker back, there's a chance he'll be priced out of the market, leaving the Cubs to find alternative ways to replace his production.
The team may try to improve their offense internally rather than through major trades or signings. Instead, they could look at internal improvement from young hitters and offset that with pitching gains. Hoyer emphasized that while there's a desire for significant upgrades, the urgency isn't as high on the offensive side as it is on the pitching front.
A trade for a key piece of the bullpen would provide more stability in the short term. However, this comes at the risk of giving up valuable prospects. The Cubs have enough depth to part with some of their younger talent but are careful not to overpay or sacrifice too much in potential future assets.
Hoyer stressed that while he's been satisfied with his team's progress under his leadership, a strong offseason is still needed for long-term competitiveness.
The Chicago Cubs' offseason plans are shaping up to be an active one, according to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. While the exact budget isn't clear yet, Hoyer has given hints about the team's priorities and approach to free agency.
Pitching is at the top of the list for the Cubs, who will likely rely on short-term and minor league deals as well as smaller trades to bolster their bullpen. The team also needs more depth in starting pitching after left-hander Shota Imanaga decided not to pursue a qualifying offer. However, Hoyer has stated that finding "a win" is key, regardless of the position.
When it comes to offense, right fielder Kyle Tucker tops the free agent class, having put up impressive numbers with the Cubs last season before being sidelined by injury. While Hoyer wants to bring Tucker back, there's a chance he'll be priced out of the market, leaving the Cubs to find alternative ways to replace his production.
The team may try to improve their offense internally rather than through major trades or signings. Instead, they could look at internal improvement from young hitters and offset that with pitching gains. Hoyer emphasized that while there's a desire for significant upgrades, the urgency isn't as high on the offensive side as it is on the pitching front.
A trade for a key piece of the bullpen would provide more stability in the short term. However, this comes at the risk of giving up valuable prospects. The Cubs have enough depth to part with some of their younger talent but are careful not to overpay or sacrifice too much in potential future assets.
Hoyer stressed that while he's been satisfied with his team's progress under his leadership, a strong offseason is still needed for long-term competitiveness.
I'm intrigued by the Cubs' strategy this offseason. It sounds like they're prioritizing pitching over offense, which isn't entirely surprising given the importance of a strong bullpen in today's game. The idea of bolstering their short-term roster through minor league deals and smaller trades is a pragmatic approach, but it also raises questions about long-term sustainability. 
. And just like Hoyer, we need to be realistic about what we can achieve with our limited resources. We can't put all our money into one big deal if we're not willing to make sacrifices along the way 
They can't just sit on their hand, but they also don't want to overpay or give up too much in prospects 
Maybe bringing Tucker back if he's priced right 
Or maybe finding value in free agency elsewhere, who knows? The important thing is they're being proactive and not just waiting for things to fall into place 
. If they can get some decent arms to fill out the bullpen, I'm cool with that. Pitching is way more important than offense in my opinion. And I mean, they're not gonna give up all their young talent for one season 
.
. Plus, Kyle Tucker is a big loss if he ends up leaving for another team, I know I'd want him back 
. The thing that's got me stoked though is that the Cubs are thinking about trying to improve from within instead of going out and signing someone super expensive. That's gonna take some guts 
, but it could pay off in the long run if they can find the right balance between youth and experience 
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so the cubs wanna be super active on the offseason? cool! gotta wonder if they got enough cash to spend... i mean, pitching is like a no-brainer, gotta strengthen that bullpen 
but offense is another story, kyle tucker's out of reach? 
, but they also don't want to break the bank on offense. It's like the classic debate between fiscal responsibility and competitiveness - do you prioritize short-term gains or long-term investment? The fact that Hoyer is looking at internal improvements from young hitters as an alternative suggests that he's trying to strike a balance between development and immediate needs.
. The Cubs need to prove that their approach is working - do they have enough depth to make a splash without sacrificing too much in the future? It's time for the front office to show us what they're made of, and not just rely on optimistic projections 
... they need some serious depth esp after shota imanaga decided not to re-sign. but like, hoyer said finding a win is key regardless of posn... i feel like that's gonna be their main focus this offseason 
. It seems like they're going all out to bolster their pitching staff, and I think it's high time they do! With Shota Imanaga not pursuing a qualifying offer, it's clear that starting pitching depth is an area of concern.
. The trade-off between stability in the short term vs risking valuable prospects is a tough one, but I think they're being cautious 
. I'm curious to see how it all plays out 
! They gotta bring back Kyle Tucker ASAP 
, he was on fire before that injury and they need all the power they can get. But I'm also loving the fact that Hoyer's not gonna overpay for some guy just 'cause he needs a win 
️. The bullpen is def a priority though 
. It's gonna be an interesting offseason, stay tuned! 
, that way they can try out new guys without breaking the bank 
, he was such a game-changer for them last season! Fingers crossed they can re-sign him or find someone who can fill his shoes 
. But if it doesn't work out, internal improvement from their young hitters could be the way to go 
, but I get why Hoyer is being cautious with their prospects 
if they wanna make a push in free agency, they should just say it out loud already! anyway, pitching is def gonna be key for them this offseason... i heard rumors of a guy who could be a great fit for the bullpen but we'll see what happens