The Chicago Cubs have done an exellent job this offseason to re-position themselves as contenders heading into the 2026 season.
Chicago’s major moves have included trading for pitcher Edward Cabrera and signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, along with adding multiple new arms to the bullpen.
The Cubs were on the mind of Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer this week as he rated the best offseasons across MLB. Rymer had the Cubs among his top five.
“The Cubs would not have been on this list a week ago, which goes to show what a big-ticket trade and a huge free-agent splash can do for a team’s reputation,” Rymer wrote. “Chicago’s five-year, $175 million deal with Bregman is chef’s kiss stuff. He’s a proven winner who offers an impact bat and glove at the hot corner, so he checks all three boxes for what the Cubs needed—especially the bat, as third base produced a 29th-ranked .621 OPS last year.”
“Cabrera could be anywhere from a No. 4 to a No. 1 in the Cubs’ current rotation, and there are reasons to bet the over,” Rymer continued. “Health and consistency have eluded him throughout his career, but any guy who throws 97 mph and has two pitches with 40-plus whiff rates has ace potential. Meanwhile, the Cubs have four newcomers in their bullpen. That should be a change for the better, especially if the new guys help solve the home run problem that plagued Cubs relievers in 2025.”
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The Cubs haven’t yet found significant postseason success in the Craig Counsell era, but that feels like it’s about to change.
