{"id":41411,"date":"2025-03-15T11:16:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T11:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=41411"},"modified":"2025-03-15T11:16:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T11:16:54","slug":"chicago-cubs-2025-season-preview-roster-breakdown-projections-and-bold-prediction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=41411","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs 2025 season preview: roster breakdown, projections, and bold prediction"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

This is a make-or-break season for this iteration of the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer acknowledges the uncomfortable uncertainty in the final year of his contract. The learning curve is over for manager Craig Counsell, who has had two winters, two spring training programs and a full 162-game season to put his imprint on the team. The margin for error has decreased since the Ricketts family ownership group and Crane Kenney\u2019s business operations department have not authorized a payroll commensurate with the franchise\u2019s revenue base, market size or previous World Series ambitions.<\/p>\n

Kyle Tucker, a rental player acquired from the Houston Astros this past offseason, will be playing for his next contract, which could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Tucker\u2019s superstar talent, plus an organizational obsession with value and pitching depth, is supposed to equal the club\u2019s first playoff berth since 2020. But even in a division as weak as the National League Central, it won\u2019t be an easy journey.<\/p>\n

\n

Austin Mock’s projections<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/th>\nPost.<\/th>\nDiv.<\/th>\nWS<\/th>\nW-L<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n

Cubs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

56.5%<\/td>\n47.3%<\/td>\n2.6%<\/td>\n84-78 (1st)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Bold prediction<\/h2>\n

The Cubs will finish slightly north of 83 wins, capturing the division title after trading for Sandy Alcantara in a blockbuster deadline deal with the Miami Marlins.<\/p>\n

\n

Projected starting lineup<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
LF<\/td>\n\n
\n

Ian Happ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

S<\/td>\n.243, 23 HR, 78 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In each of the last three seasons, Happ has won a Gold Glove and finished with an OPS between .781 and .791, making him a model of consistency.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
RF<\/td>\n\n
\n

Kyle Tucker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

L<\/td>\n.276, 31 HR, 94 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There is no expectation that the two sides will seriously engage on a contract extension during the season, which might make Tucker the No. 1 free agent on next winter\u2019s Big Board.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
DH<\/td>\n\n
\n

Seiya Suzuki<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

R<\/td>\n.264, 23 HR, 79 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This is Year 4 in Chicago for Suzuki, meaning it\u2019s time to put together a fully impactful wire-to-wire season rather than just showing flashes of being one of the best hitters in the game.<\/p>\n

In building off a solid rookie season, the Cubs believe Busch could continue developing into a Gold Glove first baseman, though it remains to be seen whether he will put up more of the power numbers traditionally associated with that position.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
3B<\/td>\n\n
\n

Matt Shaw<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

R<\/td>\n.253, 14 HR, 61 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A first-round pick in the 2023 draft, Shaw will get an extended opportunity after the Cubs failed to sign All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.<\/p>\n

The $177 million shortstop could be more productive this year after playing through a core muscle injury that ultimately required offseason surgery to fix a sports hernia.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2B<\/td>\n\n
\n

Nico Hoerner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

R<\/td>\n.272, 6 HR, 49 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Gold Glove defender is expected to be active for domestic Opening Day after missing the Tokyo Series while recovering from offseason flexor tendon surgery.<\/p>\n

Between his speed, highlight-reel defense and creative hairstyles, \u201cPCA\u201d might become the Cubs\u2019 most electric player since Javier B\u00e1ez if he reaches his full potential.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pos<\/th>\nPlayer<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
C<\/td>\n\n
\n

Miguel Amaya<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

R<\/td>\n.233, 8 HR, 37 RBI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Already respected by pitchers for his attention to detail, Amaya should also benefit from the presence of Carson Kelly, the veteran catcher signed to be a co-starter.<\/p>\n

\n

Projected rotation<\/h2>\n

The Cubs hope the Tokyo Series will be the launching point for another spectacular season from the engaging Japanese pitcher.<\/p>\n

The goal is 30 starts and 180 innings, and if Steele reaches those thresholds, the Cubs will have a good chance of playing in October.<\/p>\n

A reliable starter and a leader in the clubhouse, Taillon is halfway through a four-year, $68 million contract and is optimistic that he will be pitching in the postseason.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are putting a lot of stock in Boyd\u2019s strong playoff performance with the Cleveland Guardians last season, giving a two-year, $29 million deal to a pitcher who hasn\u2019t thrown a full season since 2019.<\/p>\n

A strained oblique means Assad will start the season on the injured list, but he has quietly put together a quality body of work that should make his return to the rotation a matter of when, not if.<\/p>\n

\n

Projected top relievers<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/th>\nThrows<\/th>\nRole<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n

Ryan Pressly<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

RHP<\/td>\nCloser<\/td>\n60 IP, 3.50 ERA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In waiving his no-trade clause, Pressly welcomed the opportunity to finish games at Wrigley Field and mentor inexperienced relievers, believing he still has the right stuff to anchor a championship-caliber bullpen after Josh Hader bumped him out of that role in Houston.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/th>\nThrows<\/th>\nRole<\/th>\n2025 projection<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n

Porter Hodge<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

RHP<\/td>\nBullpen<\/td>\n62 IP, 3.49 ERA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Cubs essentially assigned Hodge to shadow Pressly during spring training, believing the young, hard-throwing reliever can learn a lot from the veteran closer and enjoy a similarly long and productive career.<\/p>\n

\n

How the Cubs stack up<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/th>\nHope<\/th>\nFarm<\/th>\nBats<\/th>\nArms<\/th>\nPWR<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n

Cubs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

12 (of 30)<\/td>\n6<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\nTBD<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cHope\u201d is from Stephen J. Nesbitt\u2019s annual Hope-O-Meter fan optimism survey. \u201cFarm\u201d is from Keith Law\u2019s farm system rankings. \u201cBats\u201d and \u201carms\u201d are from Jim Bowden\u2019s ranking of Opening Day lineups and rotations. \u201cPWR\u201d is from The Athletic\u2019s<\/em> preseason power rankings. Team projections come from Austin Mock, while Jake Ciely provided player projections. Both are current as of March 13.<\/p>\n

(Top photo: Kamil Krzaczynski \/ Imagn Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Patrick Mooney<\/strong> is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. He spent eight seasons covering the Cubs across multiple platforms for NBC Sports Chicago\/Comcast SportsNet, beginning in 2010. He has been a frequent contributor to MLB Network, Baseball America, MLB.com and the Chicago Sun-Times News Group. Follow Patrick on Twitter @PJ_Mooney<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even in a division as weak as the National League Central, it won\u2019t be an easy journey for the Cubs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":41416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[282],"class_list":["post-41411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-chicago-cubs"],"yoast_head":"\nChicago Cubs 2025 season preview: roster breakdown, projections, and bold prediction - 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=41411\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chicago Cubs 2025 season preview: roster breakdown, projections, and bold prediction - 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