CHICAGO — After agreeing to terms on a one-year, $16.5 million deal and avoiding an arbitration hearing — something that everyone involved likely wanted to avoid — Kyle Tucker was introduced to a rabid fanbase Friday evening at the start of Cubs Convention. The return of Sammy Sosa overshadowed Tucker’s arrival. Still, the impact Tucker will provide on the field is expected to help elevate the Cubs from just outside the postseason to finally getting back to October baseball.
“I think our team should have high expectations,” Tucker said Friday evening. “We’re a phenomenal organization with some really good players. So our goal coming into the year, we should expect to make the playoffs and make a run at the World Series.”
Kyle Tucker is introduced at Cubs Con, and fans sing ‘Happy Birthday’ 🎂🥳 pic.twitter.com/HO0SvqPb8R
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) January 18, 2025
But team president Jed Hoyer knows more is needed. While speaking to media at the convention, Hoyer was clear that the priority is adding a high-leverage bullpen arm and building out the bench.
“Trying to supplement the roster as much as we can the rest of the way,” Hoyer said. “There’s a lot of good players still out there, and we’ll probably be working on that until we report and maybe even after that.”
The Cubs have been enamored with left-handed reliever Tanner Scott for years. They’ve been interested in trading for him and with him on the open market, they’ve engaged in trying to lure him to Chicago. However, with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking like the favorite, it seems unlikely that they can meet his monetary demands.
Even a veteran like Kirby Yates may start getting priced out of what the Cubs are comfortable with spending. It’s just the reality of their budget and what’s turned out to be a robust reliever market, even if it took longer than expected to materialize. Still, a high-leverage reliever is a must and one with closing experience, which Scott and Yates both have, would be a nice bonus.
“Quality relievers, sometimes those guys have closed, sometimes they haven’t,” Hoyer said. “It never hurts. But I don’t think it’s a prerequisite.”
Former closers like David Robertson, Kenley Jansen and Paul Sewald all make sense. But so could non-closers like Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek. The trade market is an option too, but the prospect cost of a really good reliever on a decent contract may be a hard pill to swallow. Houston seems willing to move Ryan Pressly and it won’t be a costly price, but whether the Cubs can swing a deal there is unclear.
Kenley Jansen is an established reliever with closing experience that could make sense for Chicago. (Eric Canha / Imagn Images)
Meanwhile, another impactful bat seems unlikely. There have been rumors that, if third baseman Alex Bregman takes a shorter deal with opt-outs, the Cubs could be interested. However, it doesn’t appear that the budget would fit a player of Bregman’s caliber, even on a shorter deal. He’s a perfect fit for a team that has an obvious hole at third base and in a win-now mindset, but the front office is limited in how much it can spend.
The Dodgers and New York Mets have set a new standard, but the Cubs don’t seem to be keeping up with the rest of the league either as teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and others have all passed them in payroll.
“I think likely,” Hoyer said when asked if their starting third baseman is in the organization. “Certainly we’ll look to supplement. Infield is an area we’re focused on (for the bench), but I think the likelihood is yes.”
By supplementing, Hoyer is saying they’ll continue to look for a bench-caliber player who can compete for third base reps. But right now prospect Matt Shaw is the most exciting candidate with Rule 5 selection Gage Workman and recently added Vidal Bruján likely competing for a bench spot and playing time. The Cubs also need a right-handed bat who can play first base and free-agent Ty France could be a fit there.
The additions of Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea make the rotation deeper, but adding a top-of-the-rotation arm seems like something that will only happen if the market for a starter craters.
“You always look, you’re always opportunistic,” Hoyer said. “I never feel as though we have enough pitching. We’ll continue to look for quality arms however they come. But yeah, I think that may be an area that we may not continue to add to this winter. If there’s an opportunity, we wouldn’t avoid it. Like I said, you can never have enough arms in today’s baseball.”
One name to keep an eye on is Jack Flaherty. His injury history obviously gives teams pause, but the Cubs have always liked his talent. At the start of free agency, it seemed like he was seeking a five-year dal. If he drops by a couple of years perhaps the Cubs get back into the starting-pitcher market.
But that’s a secondary concern. Relievers are the priority and filling out a bench that didn’t perform as hoped last season is next. The finish to the offseason may not be as exciting as fans are hoping, but if the season can deliver, that’s all that matters.
(Photo of Hoyer: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
