Cubs Offseason Review: Grading Jed Hoyer’s Moves, Impact on 2025
Even though the Cubs still have five spring training games left to play, the offseason ended Tuesday against the Dodgers in Tokyo. The gap between games that matter gives us a chance to take a few deep breaths and assess how Jed Hoyer improved his team in what could be his last winter running baseball operations on the North Side.
Follow along as we grade each of the most significant moves the front office made before providing a final score.
Free Agents
Matt Boyd (2 years, $29 million)
Boyd was Hoyer’s first splash in the free agent market, a risky but necessary move to bolster the rotation. Tommy John surgery delayed his 2024 season until August when he pitched against the Cubs. He started eight games in the regular season with a 2.72 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. His postseason was even more impressive, logging a 0.77 ERA in 11.2 innings. The small sample size makes it hard to project, but Boyd has shown that he has the talent to be a middle-of-the-rotation arm in the past.
Grade: B+
Carson Kelly (2 years, $11.5 million)
Entering the offseason, one of the biggest needs for this team was a new catcher. Even with Miguel Amaya‘s strong finish in 2024, the front office wasn’t comfortable with another year of Amaya taking on the role by himself. Kelly, a Chicago native, was a perfect option to provide defensive stability while also hitting at a league-average level. The possibility of trading for an elite catcher was explored, but it’s understandable why a deal wasn’t completed.
Grade: B-
Caleb Thielbar (1 year, $2.75 million)
Currently the lone left-handed pitcher in the bullpen, Thielbar isn’t an eye-opening signing. His 2024 season was quite disappointing, but the Cubs hope a change of scenery can give them a better avenue for success.
Grade: C
Jon Berti (1 year, $2 million)
Another signing that doesn’t move the needle, Berti was a simple depth move. He can play several positions and is a solid insurance piece in case of injury. He saw some playing time in the postseason with the Yankees during their 2024 campaign, giving him some playoff experience as well.
Grade: C
Pitching depth is always an integral part of building a roster, and that was made very clear throughout the offseason. Keller was signed to a non-guaranteed deal and is on track to make the roster once the season begins. Though he did not pitch in Tokyo, Keller performed well enough to earn a spot in the bullpen when the regular season gets underway back in the States.
Grade: A
Justin Turner (1 year, $6 million)
Signing Turner will likely go down as one of the best moves that Hoyer made this winter. Turner is a veteran presence who can offer advice to younger players, such as fellow third baseman Matt Shaw. His 2024 statistics were above average, leading to a lot of optimism regarding his age-40 season. He had fun in Tokyo palling around with younger teammates, so the transition seems to be going quite well.
Justin Turner is having a blast in Tokyo 😂 pic.twitter.com/DsM27dqZgR
— Cubs Insider (@realcubsinsider) March 16, 2025
Grade: B+
Trades
Cubs Receive Eli Morgan from Guardians for Alfonsin Rosario
In the first transaction of the winter, Hoyer bolstered his bullpen with the acquisition of right-handed reliever Morgan. The long-haired changeup specialist was excellent with the Guardians and provides another strong young arm for Counsell to use throughout the year.
Grade: B+
Cubs receive Kyle Tucker from Astros for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and Cam Smith
The Tucker trade sent shockwaves through baseball. He produced 4.2 fWAR in half a season last year, offering a look at the possibilities for what he can do when healthy. The Cubs needed a superstar and they got one. It took a top prospect in Cam Smith, but the price was worth it. Sometimes risks have to be taken, something Hoyer realized by finally pulling the trigger on a blockbuster deal.
Grade: A
Cubs receive Cody Poteet from Yankees for Cody Bellinger
At first, this deal didn’t seem like a salary dump. Fans were hoping Bellinger’s salary would be reallocated later in the winter, but that never happened. Poteet will start the season in the minor leagues, with a possible spot opening up eventually due to injury. Bellinger wasn’t a great fit on this team in light of the Tucker move, but trading him just to clear money isn’t a good look for team leadership.
Grade: D
Cubs receive Vidal Bruján from Marlins for Matt Mervis
Mervis had been mentioned in trade rumors for a while, especially with the emergence of Michael Busch at first making the path to Wrigley slim. The Marlins were frequently mentioned in mock trades, so it seems like fans and analysts were on to something after all. Bruján should get some time in Chicago, although the low magnitude of the trade means the Cubs have no reason to hold onto him longer than needed.
Grade: D
Cubs receive Ryan Pressly from Astros for Juan Bello
Similar to Keller, Pressly is a move to help the bullpen. However, Pressly has a lot more pressure to succeed due to his experience and postseason résumé. Pressly is one of the most successful closers in playoff history, giving Counsell a crucial arm to deploy late in ballgames. This deal was a salary dump for the Astros, giving the Cubs even more of an edge when evaluating it.
Grade: A-
Rule 5 Draft
The Cubs chose Workman because of his defensive talent and offensive upside, which showed in spring training. While he wasn’t guaranteed a roster spot to begin the season, Workman forced the Cubs’ hand with such a strong start in Mesa. He’ll most likely be Shaw’s backup to begin the year.
Overall, it was a solid few months of work for the front office. Hoyer and company got a superstar bat, upgraded the pitching, and solidified the minor leagues with several depth pieces. Getting an ace for the rotation would have been fantastic, but it’s hard to complain about being division favorites. Now comes the hardest part, actually winning the division.
Final Offseason Grade: A-
