Coffee w/Kap☕️: I’m hearing the Cubs won’t be big players in free agency. If true that’s awful.

Welcome into Coffee with Cap. I’m David Kaplan. 
Hope you’re ready for a great Thursday. Football back tonight in terms of NFL uh with Thursday 
Night Football and then tomorrow it’s a football Friday. But I want to talk some baseball with 
you. And I wore this jacket specifically for today on air here at ESPN 1000. hoodie and eye on 
at 6 a.m. to 9 and then a full day of programming on the recap. And why, you might ask? Because I 
was told yesterday by some very informed people in Major League Baseball that the Chicago Cubs are 
not going to be big players in free agency. Yeah, they’ll add some talent. Yes, they definitely 
will. But they are not going to be playing in the deep end of the pool with long-term contracts. 
That’s just not how it’s going to go because they a want to know the new landscape whenever the 
labor stoppage next year is over. And what a freak joke that is. You have record ratings. You 
have record interest. The 18 to 34 year old demo, which they need to grow their sport. Guess what? 
Record numbers of young people watching baseball this year. and you’re going to shut it down. Yep. 
They said the Cubs, the Yankees, and the Red Sox, those three are all aligned with the smaller 
market teams to try and get a salary cap pushed in and have cost containment and that they’re 
not going to be going out and giving these six and sevenyear deals. the Phillies, the Mets, 
of course, the Dodgers, maybe the Rangers, those people, they don’t care. They want to just 
win. They’re going to keep spending until they do win. And obviously the Dodgers, they’re at the 
head of the pack. I think that’s a freaking joke. I really do. And that is not a Jed Hoyer call. 
That is a ownership call. That’s an ownership thing to align yourself where you don’t want to 
push all your chips in and spend big money. Could they trade for a good player? Sure, cuz they 
have a pretty talented team. But in terms of all of us getting excited when we hear Bob 
Nightingale from the USA Today say, “Hey, the Cubs could be one of the surprise teams in 
free agency.” I’ll believe it when I see it. really ticks me off because it’s my favorite 
team and it really bothers me that you jam Wrigley Field, the playoffs are super cool, 
you fall a game short of beating the Milwaukee Brewers and now you’re more concerned about a 
labor stoppage and getting cost certainty in your business. Then why own a team if you’re 
not competing to try and truly win? Really bothers me. Have a great Thursday. Talk to you 
later on the rush hour, lunch hour. Take that.

Despite promising signs last season, the #Cubs are reportedly steering clear of big moves and long-term contracts. What’s going on? Why are ownership and management prioritizing cost containment over building a championship contender? Kap says this strategy is a HUGE letdown for fans who pack Wrigley Field and expect a winning team. Is this approach the right call, or does it show a lack of commitment to winning it all? Share YOUR thoughts below! 👇

Kap breaks down why teams like the Dodgers and Phillies are going all-in while the Cubs hesitate, and how this could impact the team’s future. Plus, he dives into the rumored labor stoppage and why it could be a game-changer for MLB.

#takethat

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39 comments

  3. This doesn’t surprise me and I’ve had issues with the cubs ownership but let’s take a look at those long contracts, the back end is always a disaster. Stop and take a look at the padres contracts…they have problems coming….I’m not saying don’t spend the money but Swanson is the last one that I want to see on the books.

  7. Thanks again for spelling it out. This lanor stoppage has been coming two years down the pike which once again sickens me that Jed didn't make a serious play at the trade deadline when the the Cubs were close to the best team in ⚾️this year. Yesterday's newspaper now. Next year? I might have to pass in going to the opener if it's more of the same old story😢 my favorite team,too. Kap, nice jacket

  8. Kap the sport needs a salary cap/floor for the health of the game. The ratings are coming from the dodgers/phillies markets and Japan because of the dodgers. The sport is not in a good spot right now. You have teams that will never be competitive in the current landscape

  9. Coffee always tastes better when the Cubs make some noise in free agency. Unfortunately my coffee doesn't taste as good as it can on this day. It's going to be awkward when my kids beg to go to a game next season and then I have to say, "sorry, kids, we have to 'contain our costs'. Turns out loyalty between fan and team is overrated." Regardless, have a great day everyone!

  10. Well the Chicago Blackhawks came up short against the New Jersey Devils last night.
    Devils won 4-3 in overtime Simon Nemec was the number one star of the game with a hat trick which included the GWG in overtime.
    The Blackhawks did have a good effort and just came up short.
    Their next game is Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

  11. The Cubs always seem to have an excuse to not spend like the big boys. The next excuse after the new labor deal will be that they want to wait a few seasons to see how things settle in the new landscape before they decide what to do.

  17. The Rikkets f’ng the fans? SHOCKING! He’s wiping his tears from laughing with $100 bills when the ballpark is jammed full day in & day out. We’re the fools, not them.

  18. Every year it always sounds like what big free agent or Japanese player will the Dodgers or Yankees sign but when it comes to the Cubs it's always what budget arm or bat can fit into the year's budget payroll. Cubs continue to not surprise their fans.

  21. I agree with the Cap. These contracts are ridiculous and let’s be honest after a couple years these players kick their feet up and become DH. Also is as fans have to pay for those ridiculous tickets because of these crazy contracts. Also the Cap makes it fair across the board.

  24. Kap, I am done with this organization! Done! Thank you for 2016, but it’s time to part ways. Maybe I’ll come back if the Ricketts ever sells. Don’t know, but for the time being I am no longer supporting the Chicago Cubs. It’s sad, but the Ricketts led me here. I might just root for the Sox, when Jerry sells. Or I might even go root for the Brewers.

  27. Sorry, but for long term league success, baseball needs a salary cap AND a salary floor. Look what it did for the NFL if you need any proof. Otherwise, this uptick in interest that you refer to will only be temporary and baseball will revert back to being an afterthought in the American sports landscape.

  30. Been watching this crap for 40 years. It’s like the Mc failures that own that little football club different owners same old story they’re a small market team with small minded owners, but go build your hotels in your Gallagher Way. I’ll never go there.! He’s almost making Reinsdorf look good but that’s not possible

  31. Hoyer is ineffective and a gambler. He won last year with a playoff run and an extension. He won’t win again soon. He has bad judgment in drafts, trades, and free agents. The amount of talent if we had it was dumped in trades the last two years that left zero players on the 2026 roster. How this guy gets any credit is beyond me. Go Cubs, but I wish we weren’t saddled with a cheap owner AND an ineffective front office. I wonder what Carter Hawkins plans are for 2032. I don’t think he was supposed to say that out loud. He let the attitude leak, who is surprised. I feel bad for the players that are still here on a carousel of new players in 2026 because they can’t draft and develop and build a sustainable winner. And a bunch of expiring contracts in 2026. Where’s the commitment, build a winner. Like Milwaukee does. I loathe the Brewers but recognize they have a pipeline of talent, a young controllable roster, and a lower payroll. Hmmm.. 🤔

  32. Do you really expect anything else kap because I don't they won their world series they're good and the best thing that could happen for baseball is the salary cap because the money these guys are making is ridiculous in the small markets just can't compete and then the owners in the some of the larger markets refuse to spend

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