The Rundown: Cubs Marginally Improved Entering 2025, Sasaki Decision Still Weeks Away, Kris Bryant Primed for Comeback

Call me crazy, but the acquisition of Kyle Tucker has lost much of its luster as we roll through the holidays. The Cubs have subsequently traded Cody Bellinger for a journeyman reliever, signed Carson Kelly, and they did ship Matt Mervis to Florida for underwhelming former top prospect Vidal Bruján.

Sadly, the biggest news of the holiday season is the return of Sammy Sosa, a deftly executed sleight-of-hand headline drop as other teams improved their rosters with solid trades and free-agent signings. Walker Buehler signed with the Red Sox, Jesús Luzardo was traded to the Phillies, and Corbin Burnes was snatched up by the Diamondbacks. The Cubs added Ben Heller on a minors deal, signed lefty Caleb Thielbar for one year, and have reportedly expressed “serious interest” in Josh Rojas.

When I peel back the curtain, I still see an 83-win team even if Matt Shaw exceeds his lofty rookie projections. Also, I can’t help but wonder why Chicago’s farm system once again lacks impact pitching. Perhaps Jed Hoyer will find a way to sign Rōki Sasaki or Jack Flaherty, but I think I’m being fair when I say the Cubs still do not resemble a team capable of winning 90+ games. That was Hoyer’s stated goal, but it’s one that will require widespread overachieving as the roster currently sits.

To recap, Hoyer has replaced Bellinger, Christian Bethancourt, Kyle Hendricks, Mike Tauchman, Isaac Paredes, and Nick Madrigal with Tucker, Kelly, Bruján, Matthew Boyd, Gage Workman, possibly Shaw, and a combination of Alexander Canario, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcántara. That begs the question: Is a baseball executive doing his best when he annually builds an average team and then asks each player to significantly outperform his projections? How about handcuffing himself financially by failing to find a taker for Bellinger, Drew Smyly, or Héctor Neris at last season’s trade deadline?

Happy New Year to you all. It appears 2025 will be just as maddening for Cubs fans as the previous two years, but who knows? Maybe Jed will surprise us. CubsCon is a little more than two weeks away, conveniently nestled within the Sasaki signing window.

Cubs News & Notes

• The Cubs are not connected to any of the remaining top 10 free agents, according to CBS Sports.
• Six or seven teams have been named as finalists to sign Sasaki, including the Cubs. Market size will not be considered a factor in the phenom’s decision.
• In fact, infrastructure and development may very well be at the forefront of a decision. That may or may not give Chicago an edge, though improving those areas has subtly been the team’s biggest area of improvement since November.
• Sasaki has also asked that teams do not use current players to help in the recruiting process. That’s fine, but he reportedly has solid friendships with Yu Darvish, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Shōta Imanaga. Those players will influence Sasaki’s decision, I’m sure.
• Though he could have earned more money by coming to the United States as a true free agent, Sasaki prefers to build that upside now rather than waiting two years.
• Bruján is a former top-100 prospect who will provide depth at every position except catcher.
• Heller’s upside outweighs his small-sample results.
• The slow pace of the relief market is working in Hoyer’s favor.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong will be Chicago’s top breakout candidate for 2025. Shaw and Michael Busch will give him a run for his money.
• Cade Horton is the team’s top prospect to watch this year.
• Lenny Randle, who played for the Cubs in 1980, passed away at the age of 75.
• How would you feel about giving up Owen Caissie to the Mariners in a trade to acquire veteran starter  Luis Castillo? What about trading Seiya Suzuki to the Tigers for Spencer Torkelson and shortstop prospect Bryce Rainer?
• Sosa is a confirmed addition to the 2025 Cubs Convention. Now I have to buy a weekend pass and book a hotel room. I’m also shopping for a Sosa jersey if you have one you’d like to part with.
• My Cubs New Year’s Wish: Win a playoff game for the first time since 2017.

Odds & Sods

Cam Newton doesn’t see a very bright future for Major League Baseball.

Cam Newton says baseball is a dying sport and thinks the WNBA will surpass it in twenty years.

(Via: @4thAnd1Show) pic.twitter.com/ltUop3Y7HK

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 26, 2024

Central Intelligence

I’ve included the current sportsbook win projection totals for each of the NL Central squads. The Cubs project to 86.5 wins, in case you’re wondering.

• Milwaukee (82.5): Wade Miley is determined to pitch in 2025, and he’d like to start for the Brewers. Miley is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and hopes to return in May or June.
• St. Louis (76.5): The Cardinals may keep Nolan Arenado if they can’t find a team willing to assume his contract.
• Cincinnati (78.5): It took just 37 seconds to completely demolish Riverfront Stadium. The famed venue housed the Reds during their 1970s Big Red Machine years. Stir the echoes with the ghosts of Joe Morgan, Pat Zachry, Bill Plummer, and Pete Rose.
• Pittsburgh (76.5): Outfielder Andrew McCutchen had some strong words for Newton.

New Year’s Stove

The Orioles are the current favorites to sign Flaherty, and the two sides share a mutual interest on that front.

Outfielder Teoscar Hernández signed a three-year deal to remain with the Dodgers.

Craig Breslow indicated the Red Sox might go to a six-man rotation to protect the arms of Buehler, Garrett Crochet, Patrick Sandoval, and Lucas Giolito.

Joc Pederson wants Astros fans to know that the Rangers are about to become the class of the AL West.

Brewers GM Matt Arnold believes his team has a solid foundation in place to compete for a division title.

Kris Bryant said he is in good spirits and health in his attempt to make good on the massive contract he signed with the Rockies.

The White Sox and Red Sox have baseball’s most improved farm systems heading into the new year.

Extra Innings

Enjoy this home run by Mr. Tucker!

KYLE TUCKER NOW TIED FOR THE AL HOME RUN LEAD!pic.twitter.com/rdeBeZvULq

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 11, 2024

They Said It

• “Roki is by no means a finished product. He knows it, and the teams know it. He’s incredibly talented. We all know that. But he is a guy that wants to be great. He’s not coming here just to be rich or to get a huge contract. He wants to be great. He wants to be one of the greatest ever. I believe Roki is also very interested in the pitching development and how a team is going to help him get better, both in the near future and over the course of his career.” – Wolfe

Today’s Walk-Up Song

Still an all-time favorite.