The Chicago Cubs have a long ways to go before they can declare this offseason push a real success.
The trade for Kyle Tucker was a huge deal, even if it turns out to be just a one-year rental. The trade with the Houston Astros– where the team sent over Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith for Tucker, in his final year of team control– showed some real moxy from the Chicago front office. It was the kind of move that real contenders make. At the very least, it was something beyond the bargain hunting in which they usually engage during the offseason.
Shortly after the Tucker trade, the Cubs dashed hopes of a Bellinger-Tucker-Suzuki middle of the lineup by trading Cody Bellinger and his hefty salary to the New York Yankees in a blatant salary dump. In many eyes, this was a step backwards after taking a huge step forward.
Chicago Cubs Offseason Business As Usual?
Beyond the acquisition of Tucker and the ditching of Bellinger, there’s been nothing all that different from usual Cubs organization modus operandi this offseason.
They signed Cleveland Guardians starter Matthew Boyd to a conservative, low-risk 2-year, $29 million deal via free agency.
They traded for Cleveland Guardians reliever Eli Morgan.
They signed catcher Carson Kelly to a 2-year, $11.5 million deal for a backup to Miguel Amaya.
Other than that, it’s all been depth pieces and reclamation projects. That sounds like the Cubs’ usual offseason strategy. And, as time passes and free agents fall off the board, time is running out on making a big offseason splash that screams “all in” when it comes to winning in the present tense.
Chicago Cubs, An Offseason Winner?
Michael Breakbill of Fansided recently touched on the Cubs’ sweet and sour offseason thus far, leaning more towards the sweet in naming the team one of the five “winners’ of the hot stove season so far.
Per Breakbill:
“The Cubs started by adding Eli Morgan via trade, adding Matt Boyd after looking fantastic after his return from injury, and then made a huge splash by acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. After moving Bellinger, the belief is the Cubs will reallocate those funds to help with the starting rotation and the bullpen.
The true success of their offseason depends on what they do the rest of the way. The team still has roughly $50 million to spend to stay under the luxury tax, and they must keep their foot on the gas for 2025 after landing Tucker. Two of their NL Central foes are seemingly stepping back, opening the door for the Cubs to seize the moment and hoist an NL Central crown in 2025.”
So, what will it take to make the Cubs a definitive winner this offseason? We knew all along that the “winning” wouldn’t come from the team signing a Juan Soto or a Max Fried.
If Chicago takes their Bellinger savings and a bit of Ricketts piggy bank money (or maybe a prospect or two via trade) to invest in a pair of solid, proven arms– one in the bullpen and one in the starting rotation– plus a high-end utility player, that might be enough. The NL Central is highly winnable this year and it won’t take a whole lot for the Cubs to be the class of the division.
Kyle Tucker and some mild tweaks may not be enough to “win the offseason,” but it should be enough to get the Cubs into the playoffs.
Follow me on Twitter at @boxing_tribune, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Paul Magno via email at paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.
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