The Chicago Cubs have officially entered the chat – and this time, they’re not just window shopping.

After years of cautious spending and calculated roster tweaks, the Cubs are finally acting like the big-market franchise they are. And the rest of the league is starting to feel it. In a matter of days, Chicago pulled off one of the most aggressive offseason stretches in recent memory: acquiring right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade and landing a three-time All-Star on a five-year, $175 million deal – the third-largest contract in franchise history.

That’s not just a shift in tone. That’s a full-blown identity change.

This flurry of moves comes after a complete bullpen overhaul earlier in the offseason – a clear sign that president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer wasn’t just kicking tires. He was checking boxes.

And now, with those boxes checked, the Cubs find themselves second in all of baseball in offseason spending, trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays. Among National League teams, they’re at the top of the list.

Let’s take a look at the current free agent spending leaderboard:

Top 5 MLB Offseason Spenders (as of January 12, 2026): 1.

Blue Jays – $336M
2.

Cubs – $228M
3.

Orioles – $195.1M
4.

Phillies – $179M
5.

Mets – $114M

On the other end of the spectrum? The Red Sox, who have yet to spend a single dollar in free agency.

That’s especially notable given Boston was in the mix for the same All-Star the Cubs ultimately signed. According to reports, the Red Sox brass balked at including a no-trade clause – a misstep that opened the door for Hoyer to swoop in and close the deal.

And that’s the kind of move Chicago fans have been waiting for.

For years, the Cubs have played it safe, often opting for short-term fixes and mid-tier additions rather than bold, franchise-altering swings. That approach wore thin – not just with fans, but reportedly with some inside the organization as well. The team’s conservative posture in recent offseasons led to a growing sense of frustration, especially as other large-market clubs continued to spend big and contend.

But this winter? This feels different.

With Cubs Convention just around the corner, the mood is shifting. Instead of preparing for another round of tough questions and tempered expectations, fans are gearing up to celebrate a front office that finally matched its ambition to the size of its market.

The energy around this team has changed – and it’s not just about dollars spent. It’s about direction.

Hoyer’s moves this offseason have reshaped the roster and reframed the conversation. The Cubs didn’t just add talent – they added credibility. They signaled to the rest of the league, and to their own clubhouse, that they’re serious about winning now.

Of course, championships aren’t handed out in January. They’re earned over the grind of 162 games. But make no mistake: the Cubs are finally building like a team that expects to be playing meaningful baseball deep into October.

And after years of waiting, that’s exactly what Chicago needed.