The Rundown: Hoyer Improving Team Incrementally, Turner Provides 1B Depth, MLB Testing Automated Ball-Strike System
Cubs GM Carter Hawkins talked about adding incremental wins back in December, and the machinations of this offseason prove that’s the team’s strategy to reach a 90-win projection. Chicago netted at least two wins by replacing Cody Bellinger and Isaac Paredes with Kyle Tucker and, presumably, Matt Shaw. The front office also replaced Kyle Hendricks with Matthew Boyd and revamped its bullpen with Ryan Pressly, Eli Morgan, Caleb Thielbar, and Ryan Brasier. The Cubs signed infielder Justin Turner yesterday, one of the game’s premier clutch hitters.
“The term you’ll hear on that is the marginal value of a win,” Hawkins said in December. “Going from 85 to 87 [wins] is really, really important. That might be the difference between making and not making the playoffs.”
When asked whether the Cubs are in a cycle of contention where they’re willing to trade future assets for current wins, Hawkins didn’t pause.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Jed Hoyer has said the Cubs have done their heavy lifting ahead of the current season, but he and Hawkins are always looking to improve the roster. Hoyer cited the 2024 Padres as a team that made improvements whenever additions made sense. San Diego acquired Dylan Cease at the end of spring training and added Luiz Arráez in May. Chicago has about $20-24 million in wiggle room before butting up against the first CBT threshold. Only fringe free agents remain available, though a lefty reliever is probably still on Hoyer’s wishlist.
What’s left? Using San Diego’s A.J. Preller as a model, perhaps Hoyer will continue to strengthen his roster via trades. The Cubs have been linked to Cease and reliever Robert Suárez, and Chicago has enough prospects to acquire either if the front office is willing to acquiesce to Preller’s demands. That said, Hoyer is positioned well to let the market come to him. The Cubs are one big addition shy of being among baseball’s elite. It may be a starter or an everyday bat, or maybe it’s another stud reliever. Fans should expect the front office to jump at the right opportunity once it presents itself.
As fans, we have a voracious appetite for big moves. Fiscal constraints prevent Hoyer from making those types of shock-and-awe acquisitions. Chicago’s president of baseball operations can prove his mettle this season by continuing to chip away one win at a time.
Cubs News & Notes
- Turner’s contract will pay him $6 million for one season.
- Though he’s been primarily a third baseman, Turner is not expected to be Shaw’s backup. He does provide insurance for Michael Busch at first, however. The 40-year-old infielder could make one or both of Gage Workman and Vidal Bruján expendable, especially because Alexander Canario has no remaining minor league options.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong is setting his sights on a Gold Glove.
- The Cubs also signed journeyman righty Chris Flexen to a minor league contract.
- According to Craig Counsell, Tom Ricketts said playing for the Cubs is a privilege. In other words, money should not be the motivating factor.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that Ricketts rightly expects the best effort from his players, but sadly, he has not reciprocated.
- Bradford Doolittle of ESPN projects an 86-win season for the Cubs ($) with a 56.5% chance of reaching the playoffs.
- Hoyer sounds like a defeated man when he talks about budget constraints.
- Ricketts’ frugality could force Hoyer to walk away after this season.
- Shōta Imanaga will get the start in Game 1 of the Tokyo series next month. He’ll face Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the historic tilt.
- Imanaga thanked the wave of Japanese players that came before him for the unique opportunity.
- The Cubs’ prospects will face the Dodgers’ prospects on March 13 in this year’s Spring Breakout Game for both organizations.
- This week, MLB’s Hidden Classics features the 1998 home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.
Odds & Sods
It looks like Imanaga and Yamamoto intend to corner the athletic socks futures market.
"I talked to (Yamamoto) yesterday. I was at the shopping center buying socks, and I met somebody who is with Yamamoto … he said that 'It's not time to be buying socks right now.'”
Our favorite athletes really are just like us 😂🧦 pic.twitter.com/SeRPluCpiS
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 19, 2025
Central Intelligence
- Milwaukee: Team owner Mark Attanasio won’t endear himself to Brewers fans with this quote: “Is my job to win a World Series, or is my job to provide a summer of entertainment and passion and a way for families to come together?” Ahh…the struggles of ownership.
- St. Louis: The Cardinals hope to produce at a higher clip this year than last with runners in scoring position.
- Cincinnati: New manager Terry Francona gave a motivational speech to his Reds squad on Monday that fired up every player in camp.
- Pittsburgh: The Pirates are looking to trade starter Jared Jones for a first baseman, and the Red Sox could be a perfect fit now that they’ve signed Alex Bregman. Lefty slugger Triston Casas could be Pittsburgh’s target.
Spring Training News & Notes
MLB will test its automated ball-strike challenge system in Cactus and Grapefruit League games.
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will test free agency this winter, with the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers expected to be his top suitors.
The Blue Jays are also expected to compete for Guerrero once he declares.
Dave Roberts of the Dodgers has a problem every manager would love to have: Too many good players.
Extra Innings
Tucker with the nod to Sosa, and I’m loving it.
Kyle Tucker did a Sammy Sosa-like celebration after his last cut of BP 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/FyaqZuOVal
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 18, 2025
They Said It
- “Wins are at a premium in the National League right now, so it’s not like we’re holding back a war chest to prepare for the deadline. You want to leave a hair of flexibility. And hope that if you’re winning, there’s a little more there. But it’s not like we’re holding back to get ready for the deadline. That would be a foolish thing to do in a league where every win is going to matter.” – Hoyer
- “When you get to this point in camp — and we’re a little bit deeper in camp than some other teams — you’re focused more on potentially minor-league deals where guys can get ready at a different pace. You also don’t want to cut to the bone too often making 40-man roster moves. The bar gets higher each time. Each roster move gets harder and harder. We’re kind of at that point.” – Hoyer
- “The [Padres] traded for Cease at the end of spring training; they also traded for Arraez in May and did a great job at the deadline. It’s not like there’s a starting line. We can hopefully continue to evolve as the year goes on based on needs, and we should have the resources to do that. I don’t think it’s ever, ‘Pencils down, we’re done.'” – Hoyer
Wednesday Walk-Up Song
Few movies pair music with the storyline better than I, Tonya. The unabridged songlist is available on Spotify if you care to listen,