The Chicago Cubs raised eyebrows in the offseason when they traded Isaac Parades, Hayden Wesneski, and Camp Smith to the Houston Astros in exchange for Kyle Tucker. The Cubs added a star fight fielder who has three All-Star appearances under his belt at 28.
The move was a sign from the front office that the Cubs wanted to be contenders in 2025. However, Chicago missed out on Alex Bregman and traded away two-time All-Star Cody Bellinger.
Chicago Cubs slammed for not doing enough this offseason
Will Leitch of MLB.com argues the Cubs are relying on young players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and rookie Matt Shaw to win the NL Central. Leitch thinks the Cubs will finish behind the Cincinnati Reds and blames Chicago’s front office for failing to lock down the division.
“Meanwhile, the Cubs certainly were aggressive in bringing in Kyle Tucker,” Leitch wrote. “But all the moves they made — or didn’t make — in the wake of that trade have made them more vulnerable than they should be. They traded away Cody Bellinger. They fell short in their pursuit of Alex Bregman. They didn’t do nearly as much as they could have to bolster their rotation. They’re counting a LOT on Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch, as well as rookie Matt Shaw.
“The Cubs could have locked this division down, but their flaws and holes are as apparent as they were before the Tucker trade. The Reds, meanwhile, might be the team that has the most room to grow in the whole division. I might end up picking the Brewers above both of these teams, but don’t be shocked if the Reds surprise.”
The Cubs are relying on young players like Matt Shaw
The Cubs are putting a lot of faith in their young players this season. Shaw is a big question mark at third base. The elite prospect has issues making throws, and that’s a concern for any player tasked with throwing across the infield.
The Cubs should be better than their 83-79 record in 2024. But they might not have done enough in the offseason to make them a contender in the playoffs. Chicago might want to see how their youth progresses this spring before deciding if they want to go all-in for a season-changing trade.
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