{"id":107869,"date":"2025-10-15T09:44:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=107869"},"modified":"2025-10-15T09:44:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:44:27","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-exclusive-update-cubs-quietly-preparing-a-2026-comeback-plan-new-stars-emerging-and-management-ready-to-spend-big","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=107869","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Cubs quietly preparing a 2026 comeback plan \u2014 new stars emerging and management ready to spend big!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is easy to focus on the negatives of the Chicago Cubs’ season, especially after the bitter taste of losing a game five in the playoffs, pointing the finger at every mistake that led to going home instead of playing for the National League Pennant.<\/p>\n

However, it’s important to remember that the team had a great season even though it didn’t end where they wanted it to.<\/p>\n

The Cubs made the playoffs after missing the previous four. This was also their first trip to the NL Divisional Series round since ’17 and their first 90+ win season since ’18. Good things happened this year that the team can build on for 2026, hopefully avoiding the same spot when October rolls back around.<\/p>\n

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Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cade Horton easily takes the cake for the up-and-coming talent that is on this Cubs’ roster. It was so disheartening that he didn’t get to take the mound in these playoffs after his breakout rookie season, but he will be back next year.<\/p>\n

The way he improved throughout the year is something to truly get excited about. Horton finished the season 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and nearly 100 strikeouts.<\/p>\n

Even though Pete Crow-Armstrong had been ridiculed lately, it is crucial to remember a couple of things. 1) PCA is only 23 years old, and this was only his second full year in the majors. 2) He had 35 stolen bases (by far the most on the team), complemented by 31 homers and 95 RBI. 3) PCA is a deadly defender.<\/p>\n

Crow-Armstrong and Horton aren’t the only young guns on this team, however. There is also Matt Shaw. This was Shaw’s rookie season as well at 23 years old. He was a nightmare for opposing bats with his ability to make plays at third base, and even though he started slow swinging a bat, he found his groove towards the end of the season with a .429 slugging percentage in his last 30 games.<\/p>\n

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Owen Caissie gets us on the board with his first career RBI(s)! pic.twitter.com\/xrRrL4ehSV<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 19, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Owen Caissie might not have finished the year on the roster, but everyone remembers him. He made his debut this year as well as the best guy in the Cubs’ farming system. Even though he didn’t last long with the Cubs before being sent back to Triple-A, he showed signs of brilliance. A stacked outfield has kept him down in the minors for far too long, and surely his time is coming.<\/p>\n

A Very Strong Bullpen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Michael McLoone-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Craig Counsell called his relievers “out getters” because that is what they did. Four pitchers were used in more than 50 games this season, who all had an ERA under 3.00 \u2014 Brad Keller, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, and Caleb Theilbar.<\/p>\n

MORE<\/strong>: Unexpected Yankees Star Seen As Cubs Top Free Agency Target \u2014 Why It Makes Sense<\/p>\n

These four came through in a big way for the Cubs in the playoffs. Thielbar didn’t allow a single run in five games, with only two hits and five strikeouts by the end of it. And Pomeranz and Keller both had a 1.5 ERA in over 11 combined innings with 11 strikeouts.<\/p>\n

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The @Cubs bullpen was LIGHTS OUT in the NL Wild Card Series \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/pcuOqlhqYC<\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 3, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

It is easy to focus on the negative when things didn’t turn out as the organization had hoped, but there were many positive developments this year. They easily had plenty of time where they looked like they could potentially make it to the World Series. Heck, the team stretched the NLDS to a five-game series without an ace in the starting rotation.<\/p>\n

This team could look similar next season and, with a few tweaks, could be playing late in October.<\/p>\n

The Latest Chicago Cubs News<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n

Shota Imanaga’s Cubs Contract Options Are Complicated \u2014 Here\u2019s The Smart Move<\/p>\n

NL Rival Reportedly Targeting Cubs Bench Coach Ryan Flaherty For Manager Role<\/p>\n

3 Cubs Players Unlikely To Be On The 2026 Opening Day Roster<\/p>\n

The Good, Bad and Ugly of the Chicago Cubs\u2019 2025 Season<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is easy to focus on the negatives of the Chicago Cubs’ season, especially after the bitter taste of losing a game five in the playoffs, pointing the finger a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":107879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Cubs quietly preparing a 2026 comeback plan \u2014 new stars emerging and management ready to spend big! - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=107869\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Cubs quietly preparing a 2026 comeback plan \u2014 new stars emerging and management ready to spend big! 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