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The Chicago Cubs find themselves at a pivotal crossroads this offseason – not in crisis mode, but certainly in the haze of transition. With close to $100 million available to spend (assuming they stick to the first tier of the luxury tax threshold), you\u2019d expect the front office to be aggressive.<\/p>\n
But the specter of a looming work stoppage after 2026 could keep their checkbooks holstered when it comes to long-term commitments. So the Cubs may look more like a team in holding mode than one swinging for the fences this winter.<\/p>\n
That affects the big-ticket decisions – and none looms larger than what happens with Kyle Tucker. Unless Tucker decides he\u2019s open to a short-term, prove-it deal to rebuild his value following a rough second half of the season, his return to Wrigley feels far-fetched. Most signs point to an exit.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Cubs seem poised to roll into 2026 with the bulk of their current core – and while continuity can be a strength, in this case, it might be more of a burden. Here\u2019s a look at several key players slated to return in 2026, and why their continued presence poses as many questions as answers for a front office trying to retool on the fly.<\/p>\n
Ian Happ is the obvious name that sparks a \u201cwhat if?\u201d conversation.<\/p>\n
Statistically, his 2025 season wasn\u2019t a wash – a 116 wRC+ and 23 home runs is right in line with his career norms – but the journey to those numbers was anything but steady. His slumps were deeper and longer than we’ve seen in years, and his offensive inconsistency was hard to miss.<\/p>\n
In a more flexible world, Happ would be a prime trade piece. He\u2019s a switch-hitting, defensively capable outfielder with proven pop who could headline a deal for a front-line starter – exactly what the Cubs lack.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not reality. Happ holds a full no-trade clause, and by all accounts, he\u2019s not going anywhere.<\/p>\n
So despite the need to get creative with roster construction and the opportunity to reshape the pitching staff, the Cubs are pretty much locked in here. The bat is still competent, but the ceiling?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where the doubts start to creep in.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no shortage of belief in Ben Brown\u2019s tools. The fastball explodes, the breaking stuff misses bats, and when he\u2019s locked in – particularly against the Milwaukee Brewers – he flashes upper-rotation potential. But let\u2019s not sugarcoat it: a 5.92 ERA in 2025 won\u2019t give opposing hitters nightmares.<\/p>\n
Brown represents the eternal balancing act for a club like the Cubs – raw talent versus results. The front office is invested in making the experiment work, and he\u2019ll get another crack in 2026.<\/p>\n
But this next season isn\u2019t just important for Brown – it feels like a make-or-break moment. If he doesn\u2019t turn a corner, the Cubs may have to start thinking of him less like a piece of the future and more like the latest \u201cwhat could\u2019ve been.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eli Morgan\u2019s 2025 campaign was, in plain terms, a mess. After flashing some promise with the Guardians in 2024, his stint in Chicago was marked by inconsistency and ineffectiveness. And yet, because he still holds a minor-league option for 2026, the Cubs appear poised to keep him in the mix – at least for depth.<\/p>\n
That decision will raise eyebrows. This bullpen isn\u2019t a luxury – it\u2019s an area of pressing need.<\/p>\n
Given that urgency, it\u2019s hard to justify banking on reclamation arms like Morgan. There\u2019s always a chance he recaptures whatever worked before, but the Cubs have to ask themselves whether their limited flexibility is best spent on projects or production.<\/p>\n
History says they\u2019ll bet on upside again – but the leash should be considerably shorter this time.<\/p>\n
Dansby Swanson may be the most polarizing name on this roster right now. He remains one of baseball\u2019s elite defenders at shortstop – and that matters. His glove played a huge part in the Cubs slipping past the Padres in the Wild Card series, turning game-shifting plays with paralyzing consistency.<\/p>\n
But the bat is another story. Swanson\u2019s offensive regression isn\u2019t just a minor dip – it\u2019s looking more like a trend than an anomaly. His approach at the plate is starting to lag, and unless he can adjust, his bat threatens to fall below the league average for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
The Cubs aren\u2019t really in a position to ask questions about Swanson\u2019s place on the roster – they\u2019re committed. But that doesn\u2019t mean they can look the other way. If the Cubs want to make a push in the next two years, they need Swanson\u2019s glove to keep carrying elite weight – and they need his bat to at least pull its share.<\/p>\n
So here\u2019s where things stand: The Cubs aren\u2019t resetting, but they\u2019re not going all in, either. What they do have is a roster that includes a mix of declining offensive contributors, high-variance pitchers, and unmovable contracts. They have room to spend but may shy away from big moves until after the labor picture clears in 2026.<\/p>\n
If they want to redirect the narrative and start building toward something sustainable, they\u2019ll need internal breakouts, better health from their rotation, and an offseason that\u2019s more savvy than splashy.<\/p>\n
Because right now, this version of the Cubs feels stuck in no man\u2019s land – good enough to stay afloat, but not quite built to thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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