Few teams have more reasons to be disappointed at the end of the 2024 season than the Chicago Cubs.
Spending $40 million on a manager's contract is a bold statement, and the Cubs failed to deliver on the promise of that contract in year one. Craig Counsell defected to Chicago from the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, only to be lapped by those Brewers in a division race that was practically over by June 1.
Though there were standout individual performances for the Cubs (Shota Imanaga, the lone Chicago All-Star comes to mind), the offense and pitching staff both collectively fell flat. There was no clear superstar on the Cubs roster, and that doomed them as a group.
After teasing the fan base with their occasional hot streaks the last two seasons, it's high time the Cubs make good on their playoff promise. But one 2025 prediction already doubts their chances of doing so.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter recently predicted that the Cubs would miss the playoffs in 2025, not making their next postseason appearance until the 2026 season.
"The offense is lacking in star power, especially after Cody Bellinger took a step backward from his resurgent 2023 campaign, while the starting rotation needs at least one more quality arm and the bullpen might be a complete teardown and rebuild," Reuter said.
"They have plenty of talent, but it doesn't add up to a playoff contender at the moment."
Based on current rosters, it's more than fair to doubt the Cubs' chances in the NL Central. The Brewers rule the roost, but the Cincinnati Reds are on the rise, with new manager Terry Francona leading the charge. And even the Pittsburgh Pirates, this season's last-place finishers, have Paul Skenes and Jared Jones.
Of course, if they want to change their fortunes, the Cubs still have every opportunity to make a big splash this winter. They could sign Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, or Blake Snell. They could even pursue trades for Luis Robert Jr. or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
At this point, though, doubters have every reason to dislike the Cubs. These past two years have been soundly discouraging, and something tangible will need to change to flip the momentum on the North Side.
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