Offseason Outlook: Chicago Cubs – MLB Trade Rumors

The Cubs enter 2025 with an excellent chance to make the playoffs for the first time under Jed Hoyer. Cody BellingerHoyer’s decision will help determine Hoyer’s path, but the club will be looking for help at catcher as well as in the rotation and bullpen.

Guaranteed contracts

Option decisions

• Cody Bellinger, RF/CF/DH/1B: $27.5 million player option with a $2.5 million buyout. Also offers a $25M player option for ’26 with a $5M buyout
• Drew SmylyRP: Mutual option valued at $10 million with a $2.5 million buyout

Arbitration-eligible players (service time in parentheses; salary projections by Matt Swartz)

Free agents

The Cubs’ splashy signing of Craig Counsell last November had minimal impact this year, as the club posted the same 83-79 record it had in 2023 under David Ross. A record from 17-10. April provided some optimism, but the Cubs went 65-79 in ’67 and were mostly out of the playoff race by July. Let’s take a look at the Cubs’ roster and find out how president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer might go about assembling a 90-win team for 2025 – an especially good opportunity as the Cardinals take a rare step back .

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