Previewing what 2026 may bring for the Cubs

Looking ahead to a new season, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney see a playoff-caliber team that’s approaching a cliff. With so many key players close to reaching free agency – and questions about the farm system and the baseball budget – this should be a fascinating year around the Cubs. Who stays? Who goes? What’s different from the organization’s last cliff? And why do some of these issues sound familiar?

17 comments

  1. "What 2026 may bring for the Cubs" you asked?
    I will tell you…… a 75~80 win season by 'relentless pursuit of mediocrity'.
    YES, below .500….
    2026 may be the last season of Craig Counsell……NOT necessarily being fired, but mutual divorce from one another….
    BOOK IT !!!

  4. If they want to go affordability and smaller budget by going with cheap young guys and past their prime affordable veterans then fine, but say it. Stop with the “We’re in on all the top guys” then go cheap and fall short. Just tell the fans the truth, tell us you want to develop young guys and rehab guys with injury histories because they cost less than superstars. Stop giving role players no trade clauses!

  6. Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen, Bassitt, and Valdez are not Skubal or Skenes or Crochet. Cubs blew it last winter when they didnt go full blast to get Crochet. Now, the expectations are to watch Shaw come out of the dugout wearing his KKK uniform and for the team to break even. Its all downhill. Can the Cubs expect PCA to have another season like 2025 ? Heck no. His second half at the plate was not good. And they let Keller ;eave?? Is this for real ? 82 wins TOPS. And trade the NAZI at 3rd base.

  7. This is not going to get better…

    There are a bunch of guys whose contracts are up after 2026. To get those guys back OR sign their replacements, they are going to have to bid on the open market against every other team. Let's take Happ as an example. We'll even assume best-case scenario, where Caissie is an immediately above-average OF and Shaw produces at 3B. The Cubs, that are supposed to be in contention, will still be a starting OFer and 2B short, with no replacements in the organization for 2027 (barring some developmental miracle from Alcantara). Are they going to have to compete to 4yrs/80M that the other teams will offer Happ? Same goes for Hoerner, who will be gone or making top dollar. And for a team that already acknowledges they are a missing a top of the rotation starter, they are going to need that ace AND replacements for Taillon, Imanaga, and Boyd. How much financially flexibility are you going to have when you are paying free agent prices (in a very weak FA market) to find starters in LF, 2B, C, and 3 or 4 Starting pitchers?

    But hey, there’s always the prospects, right?

    The farm system has been depleted to the point that when Caissie, Ballesteros, and Wiggins graduate, this is going to be a bottom 10 system in MLB. What window they have is going to slam shut by 2028.

  10. I think Braden is overhyped and therefore will be over paid… Chicago cubs need to stay away

    They need Ian Happ to waive his no trade clause and go to a team such as the Seattle Mariners who need a right handed outfield that, he is a switchhitting outfielder of course. Get some pieces back and lessen the logjam in the outfield 2026 season Alcântara centerfield moving PCA to either left or right and Cassie left or right depending on on their strong side. Suzuki DH, he’s a free agent and probably will walk after the year allowing Ballesteros the DH role going forward.

    Sign Eugenio Suarez to a two-year deal allowing Matt Shaw to be utility for this year spelling at third base, shortstop and second base.

    Sign Imai if you are thinking about this year in the next five or six or Ranger Suárez if you’re really thinking the next 2 to 4 years is the goal.

  11. Just wrapped up reading a great book. "Buying a MLB team for Dummies!" Nowhere in there did it suggest I spend a billion buying up the neighborhood around the ballpark.

  16. If they don't go all in this year and I mean all in to be the hands down favorite and to be in the conversation for a w.s. they never will. I wouldn't be shocked if they make no big moves so they can justify the mid season sell off at the deadline.

Leave a Reply