The Cubs’ blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker generated the biggest headlines in Wrigleyville this winter, with the team also adding such notables as Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Eli Morgan, Carson Kelly, and Caleb Thielbar to the roster. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stated this week that the Cubs were still looking to add to the bench and bullpen, and recent reports suggest that the latter pursuit could even take the form of a big-ticket signing of Tanner Scott.
One of the over-arching questions about Chicago’s winter plans is exactly how much Hoyer had available to spend, and chairman Tom Ricketts addressed this point in an interview with The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney. Ricketts said that the team expects to spend around the $241MM luxury tax threshold, which therefore gives the Cubs quite a bit of extra capacity, as RosterResource estimates its current tax number at roughly $198.3MM.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cubs will be splashing around a lot of that cash in the coming weeks, however, as Ricketts said some money could be earmarked for upgrades at the trade deadline. “We always have the ability to add payroll if we need to at the deadline. And if there’s a piece we need to keep winning, there’s always that option,” Ricketts said.
The same wait-and-see mentality also impacts the remainder of the winter, as Ricketts noted that teams “don’t control the timing of when these guys sign. And every offseason is different. Nothing will happen for three weeks, and then one guy will sign. And then three other guys want to sign in the next two days. You just have to be flexible through the process, and keep an eye open at the end with some dry powder, in case there is someone that might be value-added that comes at a good price.”
A more expensive signing like Scott would take up a sizeable, yet not overwhelming, portion of Chicago’s budget space. Rumors have persisted that the Cubs remain at least on the periphery of the Alex Bregman and Jack Flaherty markets, so despite Hoyer’s comments about the team’s focus on more lower-tier moves, Chicago can’t be entirely ruled out as a landing spot for either player until they sign elsewhere. Bregman is reportedly not interested in a shorter-term deal with opt-outs while Flaherty is at least open to such an arrangement, so Flaherty could be a better fit as the type of “value-added” opportunity Ricketts describes (though any number of teams might also be interested in Flaherty in that same context).
The Cubs have taken a step back in their approach to payroll in recent years, as 2024 marked the first time since 2020 that Chicago’s Opening Day payroll landed within the league’s top ten spenders. While the Cubs boosted payroll last year and into this offseason, some budget restraints are still clearly in place. Most notably, the trade that sent Cody Bellinger to the Yankees was about unloading the majority of Bellinger’s remaining salary, in addition to clearing room for Tucker in Chicago’s outfield.
Fans have criticized Ricketts for this relative lack of spending from a big-market team, with some fingers pointed at the private investment firm Arctos for having an influence in this department. Ricketts pushed back against this criticism in particular, noting that because Arctos has investments in multiple MLB teams, “they’re not allowed to participate in any baseball discussions, so they’re walled off from anything to do with payroll or player analysis….Ultimately, the private equity investors have very long-term horizons and are just looking to participate in the appreciation of sports assets in general. They don’t need certain win totals or cash-flow numbers. They’re just strong, silent partners.”
As always, the Competitive Balance Tax is calculated via average annual value plus additional player benefits, as opposed to just straight dollars — this is why the Cubs’ $227.7MM payroll in 2024 translated to a $239.9MM tax number, which put Chicago slightly over the $237MM tax threshold. This means that the Cubs would have to give up two draft picks in order to sign a qualified free agent like Bregman, which is why non-qualified free agents like Scott or Flaherty could be preferable.
Not coincidentally, the Cubbies’ scaled-back spending through a semi-rebuild coincided with a dearth of postseason baseball. After reaching the postseason in 2020, the Cubs had sub-.500 seasons in both 2021 and 2022 before posting identical 83-79 records in each of the last two seasons. There has been plenty of frustration among Cubs fans over the last two years’ worth of near-misses, and it has led to speculation that Hoyer is facing extra pressure as he enters the last year of his contract as the team’s PBO.
Ricketts downplayed the idea of 2025 as a particularly important season, noting that “every year, the goal is the playoffs.” While Ricketts didn’t give Hoyer an outright vote of confidence in terms of promised job security, the chairman did praise Hoyer’s big-picture approach to roster-building.
“You evaluate the front office on a couple levels. Obviously, No. 1, is just the wins on the field,” Ricketts said. “That’s the most obvious metric to check. But it’s just overall organizational health. One thing that’s been very encouraging over the past few years is that we have drafted better. And the guys that we have drafted have developed more quickly than some years past. We put ourselves really behind the eight-ball a few years ago with a series of drafts that weren’t very productive. And I think we’re on the other side of that now. We’ve got a lot of players coming through, which will give Jed a lot of trade capital to go into the future.”
Evaluators and pundits have increasingly praised the state of the Cubs’ farm system, and this depth already manifested itself in the Tucker trade. Isaac Paredes was included in the three-player trade package to the Astros because the Cubs have confidence that Matt Shaw is ready for regular third-base work, plus top prospect Cam Smith was also sent to Houston in the deal.
“Maybe in a few years, people will say we should have traded somebody else,” Ricketts said. “But that’s what it is – there’s a balance to every trade. In this case, I think Jed was right in assessing that we needed an impact bat this season.”
Ricketts also added that “hopefully, [Tucker will] enjoy his time here and he’ll be here a long time.” Tucker is a free agent after the season, and while Ricketts naturally isn’t going to outright say that the Cubs view him as a just a one-year rental, his comment at least leaves open the possibility that the Cubs are willing to give Tucker the mega-deal that he’ll undoubtedly command if he keeps up his current form. Jason Heyward’s $184MM contract remains the most expensive deal in Cubs history, and the club is very likely going to have to at least double that price to re-sign Tucker.
Would love to see mlbtr pursue excellent articles like this for all MLB teams, especially my team!
Maybe your teams owner isn’t talking to the media?
Drasco – My team’s owner is guilty as charged.
Red Sox Nation detests John Henry and his arrogance.
You have no idea what Red Sox Nation thinks.
Brew. They write about your team and get criticised.
The Giants?
Oh please. You need to stop that charade. It’s ridiculous.
you know nothing of my fandom. The Cubs?
Fire jed
True. But I can also read.
Maybe a padres fan has your account details. I apologise if that’s the case.
I’m a season ticket holder at Petco as I live and work in that area. Grew up in SF area and still a Giants fan. Played in Cubs, Twins and As orgs. There is a lot to life, I am a big fan of several teams, authors, countries, movies, cars, animal and plant species, etc….
Ok.
It’s always been like this. They will find Cubs articles before any other news on any other team. And then they always spin it in a way that implies the team is always looking to improve and spend no matter what is actually said.
You a Brewers fan? They probably get the short end of the stick more than any other team.
Ridiculous.
BITA
Nowhere in the article did they say Ricketts is to be believed or trusted. In fact, they pointed out that an owner is not going to say that a player like Tucker was just a rental.
You repeat yourself over and over that you think the writers here are biased. I don’t mind if you are incorrect in your analysis, we all are sometimes right and sometimes wrong, what I find mildly annoying is that you have said the same thing maybe close to a hundred times now.
If you really thought the site was that bad, wouldn’t you have left it by now?
Actions speak louder than words.
I like the site. I have been around since the Brian Roberts days. Do you know what that means? If you do you have been around since the sites inception just like I have. I like the site a lot but there is a heavy Cubs bias. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t being honest.
@Joel The Cubs are in a bigger market and the team puts more emphasis on relations with the media.
No shock you are trying to toot your own horn again here as well. As long as I’ve been on this site there has been one constant, your laughable takes.
BITA
As of 4 pm Eastern time, you have thirteen posts on this article. Tim would be wise to cap non-subscribers at three posts per article. LOL
And I t’s a dumb hill to die on.
MLB – He always spams nearly every comments thread, with zero thought or effort put into his posts. It’s all about quantity with him, like a dog marking his territory with a few drops every couple feet.
Thank God for the mute button!
But the team and show is how it’s done if it’s so easy.
…and the next one’s a Cards article.
BITA
You need to get a life. Tim dunking on you was very deserved.
This site predicted 7 Cardinals players would be traded on their top 35 trade candidate list.
How many have been dealt?
Nothing but net…….
Joel The Cardinals have not signed anyone or spent significant money improving their roster this offseason. Those are type of things that generate interest.
You make these wild allegations, yet are oblivious to reality. The Cardinals have not been spending money or improving their roster. Nearly anyone other than you realizes they are going into a lost season.
The Cardinals will get media attention when they do something to spark a shred of interest….
@Joel One of those players had a deal worked out but invoked no trade clause. 2 others one of which has a no trade clause has stated they’d invoke no trade clause.
Before you try and have an aha moment maybe ground your feet in reality….
Newsflash- the guy who owns this site is a huge Cubs fan. Guessing some other employees trying to get brownie points for ALL the Cubs coverage even though they’ve missed playoffs last 4 years in a row!
..and another jealous Sox fan comments.
@bucket:
Yeah, either that, or blackpink decided to change his name again lol.
They’re literally just quoting what the owner said at the team’s convention, which is happening this weekend, while adding some context to his comments by describing what the club has already done this off-season. And this convention is being televised FFS. Enough with the woe-is-me crap. It’s pathetic.
Yep. The padres crew need to get together, write what they want to hear, send it to MLBTR and get them to post it. Everyone wins.
The “added context” is always spun in the most positive light for Cubs fans. Always. It says the team plans to spend up to the luxury tax but where is the quote with him saying that? I would read it myself but the article is behind a paywall.
Maybe your teams aren’t having their fan conventions this weekend so the media are all over the place asking questions they have to answer. Maybe your teams owners don’t wanna talk.
When is the Brewers fan convention? As a Cardinals fan at least my team is usually shown some respect(not this year though). If the Brewers want an article about them someone has to die.
BITA, feel free to read the article then. This aggregation site is basically stealing this article from The Athletic article and then people still complain about the free content they’re not getting. Spend some money to support that endeavor or STFU.
“Tom Ricketts addressed this point in an interview with The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney. Ricketts said that the team expects to spend around the $241MM luxury tax threshold, which therefore gives the Cubs quite a bit of extra capacity.”
I did read The Athletic article. It doesn’t have any extra quotes regarding team spending. The lede was paraphrasing the sentiment of the other quotes, which were lifted for this free aggregation site about which you are still complaining. Poor you.
He makes the same whacked observation constantly. It’s completely without merit.
The article is behind a payroll i can’t read it.
The part you quoted in your second paragraph ISNT ACTUALLY A QUOTE. Get a clue dude.
If the article doesn’t have any extra quotes then why is this site pretending it does?
Lame
Now I can’t comment anymore.
Lame
What’s lame is you Joel. Speaking of pretending, why do you still pretend you know baseball? You have been on here arguing when you were dumbfounded that there was a thing against left handed infielders. You argued about how many games you watched and talked of a pitcher yet didn’t even know his pitch repertoire. You thought you were being lied to when “sweeper” was mentioned. You argue that the writers on this site and others are lying. You are regularly getting nasty with others. And the list goes on.
Joel= LAME
@Joel You have a lot of nerve being critical of something you don’t pay for. It’s also laughable that you try and put emphasis on how long you ve been following the site.
How about we put emphasis on how long you ve been paying for the site since you are so critical of their writing….
12ft.io or join a library and you can read the content for free
“Behind a payroll”.
Can’t read OR write! Hahaha!!
It’s called referencing Joel. And the Cubs are spe disgusting $ and signing players, things that are newsworthy and generate interest.
You want to remind me who the Cardinals have signed and who they have spent $ on to generate interest???
You want to claim biased here’s your chance to list what Cards have done to back your absurd allegations.
It is absolutely pathetic. I’ve tried to show some empathy for Joel as he’s clearly nowhere near being a Rhodes Scholar. Yet he goes out here and runs his mouth and is disrespectful to people constantly. He asks for any criticism that comes his way and needs to ve knocked down every peg amd then some in an attempt to keep his mouth in check.
It’s not like they did the interview
No they didn’t do the interview. They just report the interview and selectively look for things in it to spin the content in the most positive light possible. And there is a pattern of this happening over and over again.
Markets and demand drive content
Sure they do. But the content here is always spun in a positive way for the Cubs. It’s always about how much they have to spend and what moves they will make next. It’s rarely anything negative.
That’s okay their fans posting provides all the negativity you need.
It’s silly entitlement. Your Padres haven’t won anything yet. Once they do the fans will get some entitlement too. As a Cardinals fan I know all about the entitlement fans can show they are some of the worst.
Padres have plenty of negative posters. One of them is like a bot on every thread.
It’s really that one guy towinagain. The rest are incredibly positive and a bit naive.
The clowns saying it was a “political pick” are last as last year’s Easter eggs.
“It’s silly entitlement,” says guy complaining there isn’t more free content of his team he wants to consume without ever considering the idea of paying for it.
Who said I want more content? I said i want FAIR AND UNBIASED CONTENT.
Do a quick search by team of content, then come back with a report of how many articles on this website per team.
You want “fair and unbiased” content about an article stolen from a pay site you refuse to contribute toward that is covering the Cubs Convention and reporting direct quotes from the owner of the team?
Are you listening to yourself? WTF are you talking about? The owner says what the owner says. No rational person expects those comments to be unbiased. It’s the owner FFS. You have to filter that on your own with an ability to reason at a level commensurate with a functional human. Apparently that’s the part where things are breaking down for you.
Joel wants unbiased, yet even if it’s unbiased he ll caim it’s lies if it doesn’t say what he wants. It’s unreal reading some of the things he says. It’s really laughable to considering how obvious it is he doesn’t watch the sport. He’s the epitome of a fan of sports news and stats, not a fan of the actual game.
If the site isn’t going to share the content of the article then why are they writing an article based on the content and sharing it here?
You want them to say what you want to read- That sir, is a biased opinion.
I’m curious why these posts are considered articles. They’re aggregated media reports. MLBTR never HAS had a journalistic foundation.
Yeah, there’s a HUGE Cubs market. And they need eyeballs. Unless Uek wants to die again…good luck.
When you interject your own thought and opinions within the post it becomes an article
Maybe the problem is that you don’t understand how aggregating sites actually work? That would make sense considering you are spending your time sharing your uninformed grievances on it while contributing zero monetarily to the people doing the actual work, in this case Patrick Mooney from The Athletic.
This seems to be the case with lots of you uninformed grievances folks is that you don’t actually understand how anything works.
I don’t owe anyone any money champ.
But while we are in the subject why don’t you give them some of your money?
I do. That should have been clear to you when I stated in a previous comment that I read the linked article on The Athletic, but I know reading comprehension isn’t a strong suit of the uninformed grievances crowd. It’s like $1-$2 a month. I know that’s probably too much for you, and that’s fine. I just hate when previously fun comments sections are ruined by endless complaints from people destined to die alone and unloved because they don’t realize how terrible they make literally everything in life that people used to enjoy.
This site. Give this site your money. You can afford it right? Is that too much for you?
Why would I give money to an aggregation site literally stealing an article from a site that created the content, of which I am a subscriber?
Ok well why are you here commenting then?
See my previous comment:
“I just hate when previously fun comments sections are ruined by endless complaints from people destined to die alone and unloved because they don’t realize how terrible they make literally everything in life that people used to enjoy.”
And you trolling me is making it better?
You could just ignore me. Right?????
BITA, sometimes these people are lonely and don’t realize how terrible they make life for everyone else, and these comments sections are the only way to let them know, on the off chance that they might not want to continue their miserable existence as a way to eventually avoid dying alone and unloved. Frequently, though, they don’t want to change; they’d rather be miserable people ruining everything around them for everybody.
J27 – It’s a common trend.
Good people create good places.
Bad people are allowed into those good places.
The bad people try to ruin the good places.
Maybe someday (Monday?) the bad people start getting sent back to the places they came from?
Are the “bad people allowed into good places” in this story the guy whom Jeffrey Epstein called “his closest friend for 10 years?” Because if you’re not and are instead talking about deporting immigrants, that plan is projected to cost about $100B/year and sink the GDP by 7-10%, or about twice as much as GDP fell during the Great Recession in 2008. So if that’s what you’re hoping for, man, I hope you and everyone you care about get exactly what you’re hoping for.
J27 – I haven’t a clue what the hell you’re talking about as it has nothing to do with people who have multiple bans from other baseball sites because of bad behavior coming here and disrupting this good place with their similar bad behavior.
I spoke my peace, I’m done with this conversation.
Good idea.
Fever —
Excellent news that I apparently misinterpreted the meaning of the (maybe Monday?) portion of your post. Would you care to clarify that qualifier for me so I fully understand it? Thanks in advance.
J27 – I believe Tim doesn’t usually work on weekends.
BITA…when you interject your own thoughts in a piece of journalism it’s OPED.
He says as he rubs his hands together in glee like Old man Potter
Meanwhile, on the South Side…
I’m not sure if this in encouraging new for Cubs fan or discouraging because Hoyer apparently has had money to spend but has only spent it on marginal players.
That was my first thought in reading this article. If they had that much money, why wait for the better available players to sign elsewhere? It’s a bit confounding to me.
they spent about $50M in 2025 LuxTax money, while saving about $15M from the tucker/bellinger trades. they probably will want around $15M for midseason additions, which means they have about $25M left to spend. i dont hate the use of assets here to be honest. tanner scott is in play, bregman could even be in play if you leverage deadline money for the full season of bregman, flaherty could be had
Scott would be a shock. Considering it’s Hoyer, Kirby and Moncado signings would be a Sasaki size move for him.
Quite frustrating if you add up the money Hoyer spends on garbage like Theilbar, Festa, Zastryzny, Rea; he could’ve just signed one actually good pitcher.
Same thing Cashman did for several seasons, Robert. It’s very frustrating.
My first thought in reading this article was what a bunch of crap about Tucker. Anybody who took that Ricketts comment as him having an interest in re signing Tucker has been hit in the head too many times. Hoyer, Hawkins and Ricketts have spent the last two days basically babbling about nothing. I’ve never heard a FO that says so much, While absolutely having no meaning to any of it.
Aloha uncle Mike! Arigatou Gozaimasu, thank you! I used to defend Jed. No more. I don’t care if his hands are tied up by ownership or not. He hasn’t shown that he can make strong long term deals. He’ll trade away talent for rentals, not just Tucker, remember Candelario? But then not engage the Oakland A’s when Olson, then Murphy were available. I don’t think he’s fit to be a president of operations, maybe just a gm. I felt the same about Zaidi here in the SF Bay Area and now he’s gone. You watch, Jed is going to sign Tanner to his demands of 4yrs, just so he can say he spent money and locked up a reliever for many years, smh. It’s time for Jed and the Ricketts to go. Hang in there. Mahalo!
The Cubs traded for Tucker for the same reason that the Angels signed Trout and Rendon. so they could have a big name out there to market to the casual fan. Tucker is gone at the end of the season and Ricketts could really care less. if a few more fans show up this year then he is happy
Aloha outinleft, unfortunately I think you may be right. If Tucker walks away, that trade is a big failure unless they win it all and I don’t see that happening with the current team. The casual fan won’t care if Jed and Ricketts traded away so many years of control away in Paredes and possibly in a star in Cam Smith because as you said, it was all about saying Tucker played the 2025 season in Chicago. As much as I’m a Cubs fan, seeing how this organization is being ran right now, I’d encourage Tucker to go into free agency. We’ll see what happens. Mahalo!
Uncle Mike, you must have forgot about the Bears FO of Ryan Pace and Sweaty Teddy.
Hoyer’s always been a dumpster diver going back to his days with the Padres. I can’t understand how he keeps getting hired.
Not only does he sign trash but he cuts promising young players to do it. Infuriating. All these guys should be filled with the farm and go after the big fish. I have no doubt in 2 years arias will be a back end bullpen piece. He cut him for a ho hum mid 30s swing man
Jed dumps guys like Arias, Estrada and Megill while filling the roster up soft-tossing long relief types.
He spent it on several “notables.”
I think a lot of the top free agents are still looking long term (3-4 yrs +). Probably wise to avoid that.
In related news, Tom Ricketts bought a goat as a gift for Murphy’s Bleachers Bar. No word has been announced as to stadium privileges…
I believe that there is a real chance that Kyle Tucker is that special Talent & person that Mr. Ricketts will bite the bullet for & that Jed will be working with Kyle’s agent to get an extension before trade deadline.
Haha. Nup
Probably won’t happen, but I do think the Cubs are at least open to the idea of giving him a massive contract to keep him. However, these days to sign a superstar you have to massively overpay, just how the market is. Teams are less interested in giving good but aging stars like Bregman $200M contracts. But young stars that hit the market south of 30 yo…. Some team desperate for a splash like the Yankees will make an absurd offer. The Cubs’ only shot is to sign him to an extension that Tucker can’t refuse be he hits FA. No way Ricketts will beat all offers on an open market to keep him.
Tucker is a 1 year rental. At most. If the Cubs aren’t contending at the break, he’ll get shopped then.
Next year’s RF/DH combo is Suzuki/Caissie.
I truly wish there was even a modicum of truth to this post, but unfortunately, Tucker isn’t going to sign when he’s so close to FA unless they blew him away, which they’re not going to do. And once he enters FA, (assuming he has an excellent platform year), he’ll ask for more than 400M and I just don’t see the Cubs going there.
“We put ourselves really behind the eight-ball a few years ago with a series of drafts that weren’t very productive.”
Whoever was in charge when Ed Howard was drafted should have been fired immediately. Worst pick I’ve seen the Cubs make since Jim Hendry days.
He was thought to be the best SS in the draft. Didn’t work out that way but that’s MLB drafting. Teams are lucky to hit on 5%.
His glove is solid to above average, everyone knew he couldnt hit and wouldnt have a chance in hell against MLB pitching. You dont take guys like that in the 1st round.
Teams are lucky to hit on 5% of 1st round picks. About 70% make it to the majors, but only 10% stick as regulars and less than half of those become star players.
No he wasn’t and besides, everyone knew he couldn’t hit. I know guys who played against him and they doubted he would ever amount to anything. This was a Theo signing.
Other than Austin Martin and Nick Gonzales, Howard was the top IF in the 2020 draft. There were only eight IF of any sort in top 50 draft prospects. mlb.com/milb/prospects/2020/draft/
Ed Howard was one of the top high school talents available for the 2020 Draft and also a shortstop, a position that tends to go higher than others.. He was a local kid who had more White Sox connections being from the south suburbs and through various local amateur programs.
It wouldn’t have been a shock to see the White Sox select Howard but they had a higher pick at #11 than the Cubs #16 slot. The White Sox opted for college southpaw Garrett Crochet. The organization has had more success developing college pitchers, especially left-handed ones that had previously included Chris Sale and Carlos Rodon.
Howard has some leash left being a first round pick and a prep star. Hopefully he can still put it together with the Cubs with improved health in 2025. If not, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox take a flyer on him with their current rebuild and need for position player depth.
The only thing the Wsox do better than the Cubs are drafting and developing pitchers, drafting has been meh for both teams.
.570 OPS in the minors. Cant slug .300 but they promoted him to AAA. What a joke.
They drafted Howard 3 spots ahead of the Mets taking PCA. If the Cubs didn’t waste that pick they could’ve acquired even more talent trading Javy.
If you need a better example of if you want to be a Tax compliant team why you don’t want Jed Hoyer as your POBO in charge of contracts look no farther than the Smyly-Rea- Thielbar fiasco. I mean what would Smyly have cost 11 million? So this is better. I was all for buying out Smyly but he just replaced him with the same options.
Hendry did draft Javier Baez. His faults were mostly ignoring the closer and back end of the pen. Could have won it all in 2003 with a stronger back end of the pen. They were that close.
Javier Baez was a decent draft, they got some value out of him and they moved him at the right time for PCA. They avoided the mistake of signing him to an extension.
Hendry had some good picks too, but a lot of wasted 1st rounders who never made it past A bal.
Soooooo much focus from this site on how much the Cubs will spend. It’s just non stop coverage as if the writers can will their team into a contender.
The team spent like crazy last year and what did that get them? Maybe the problem isnt money it’s something else.
The Cubs did NOT “spend like crazy” last year. They re-signed Bellinger at the last minute to a short, high AAV deal, and made a very shrewd and affordable signing with Imanaga, and gave Hector Neris a 1yr $9M (or something like that) deal. That was about it. Maybe Mancini, or was that 2yrs ago? Regardless that’s not spending a lot.
You can keep crying about too many articles being written about the Cubs, but you coming here and reading and commenting on them only tells the writers to keep them coming. They don’t write a lot of articles about the Rays and Brewers bc no one reads them. Not hard to figure out. Whatever team you follow, surely they have beat reporters who track their offseason, go read their articles or the MLB.com site for your team. Sheesh. The entitled iPad kid generation, never grows up. This website doesn’t exist solely for you. They are a business, they write articles to increase traffic and clicks so they can sell ads and subscriptions to pay their writers and staff. Writing about the Marlins not doing anything won’t keep the lights on, junior.
Last year they Cubs had a payroll of 214 million which was 30 million more than 2023 and 70 million more than 2022. It was the largest payroll in the franchises history. So yeah they definitely spent like crazy.
Of course Brewers fans don’t visit this site. Why would they?
If it was all about who gets clicks the place would be littered with New York and LA articles. It’s not. It’s always more Cubs coverage than anything. Year after year it’s always that way. Heck you could count the articles I am sure there is literal proof of this.
How would you know that for sure? You don’t have access to site data. The majority of this site’s users are lurkers and don’t comment.
@Joel Cubs were 9th in spending in 2024. Cardinals were 11th…
@robert: BITA is a Cards fan. He vents his Cubs hatred at every opportunity.
I know him as Joel P. It’s easy to tell whenever he uses a new username.
@YBC: Yep. He’s also blackpinkinthearea. An angry, multi named troll.
So I guess it’s mlbtr.com’s fault the Cards aren’t doing anything this offseason..? Ha, Cards fans…
Thanks Nashville and YBC: I was trying to remember what his ‘previous name incarnations’ were. Black pink and Joel and now BITA has complained about the exact same things now, FOREVER. He’s a Cardinal loser.
At least they got some nice new alternate unis to distract the fans from the actual product on the field….
Outrage brigade bat signal.
They did well on the Bellinger trade….the Yankees didn’t do themselves any favors, except maybe not buy a free agent with compensation attached. I think baseball teams should make a legitimate effort at competing–maybe make modest cap space available in a trade with teams as they do with international signings.
“Ricketts said that the team expects to spend around the $241MM luxury tax threshold, which therefore gives the Cubs quite a bit of extra capacity, as RosterResource estimates its current tax number at roughly $198.3MM.”
Maybe Ricketts simply considers 200M to be “close to” 241M?
That’d be the day Hoyer gets Scott. No way. He hates spending for relief pitching.
As we thought they’d be around the first CBT level. If the Cubs don’t get one of these top BP guys left with some of this money, Jed better start working on his resume.
Why? As long as they’re kind of in contention and the house is full, Ricketts is happy.
What coop said,
Owner shouldn’t speak defending spending. Cub fans will never be happy!! They will complain the day after a Playoff victory. Media, Bloggers, Podcasters put GM opinions in their heads and make them unhappy. All Cubs fans should have a Support Dog to pet and cry with.
Watch Kyle Tucker go right back to the Astros in free agency.
I don’t think he will stay. Wrigley is a tough field to play on.
The one thing that Ricketts said that rings true to me is that private equity ownership in baseball is having a negative effect on the game. “They don’t need certain win totals” and that is the entire problem with them being involved. They have no ties to the teams and all they care about is that the team makes a profit bot short term and long term.
The number of private equity firms like Arctos that are in the ownership groups of multiple teams at the same time is sucking the life out of the sport. Private equity is all about sucking every ounce of profit out of a business and then leaving it rasping for air and dying. It’s only goal is to enrich those investors as much as possible, improving the product being produced is beside the point, and if that profit taking means killing the business, so be it. Private equity and the lack of morals and accountability involved is a huge problem in every industry and MLB is no different.
Until Manfred, no entity or person could be part of the ownership of more than one team. Now Arctos alone is part of the ownership of 8 teams.
This cancer needs to be excised from baseball.
@outin MLB owners have always been driven by profit. Private equity firms owning teams does not change anything in that regard. The Black Sox were able to be bought due to a notoriously cheap owner and one of the biggest legends in the sports history(Babe Ruth) was sold to fund a play. You yourself acknowledge it’s a business, businesses aim to profit. Manfred like all commissioners was selected by the ownership, his choices are a reflection of the majority of MLB owners. If a commissioner were to come in and ignore the wished of the owners they’d just be removed for someone who will. Ultimately it’s their business and what the majority of owners prefer will prevail.
Tigers, thank you for demonstrating your ignorance of the situation. In the past a person or group could be part of the ownership of one team. They were invested in the success of that team. Private equity does not work that way. Go learn more about how it works and come back and we can discuss this on an equal footing. For now, its obvious you don’t know what you are talking about.
@outfield You added nothing if substance other than now private equity firms can own teams. Other than that you seem to have an opinion on the matter. But you have provided nothing factual to back that opinion.
Before you try and accuse others of demonstrating ignorance, make sure it’s something you are not guilty of….
You have added nothing period. If you don’t understand, say so. Someone will explain it to you. Otherwise just be quiet.
I understand quite clearly, teams are operating for profit as they always have. What exactly has changed??
Funny you think anyone is going to listen to you and be quiet at your command….
The Cubs won’t be able to compete with the best teams if the don’t teach the Roger Beshens Football Slider. No one teaches it better than Roger Beshens who was teaching Strom how to do it in the Dbacks Clubhouse May 23, 2024.
Data and statistics aren’t as useful to the pitcher if they don’t know how to shape the Roger Beshens Football Slider. Roger demonstrated his shaping techniques to Strom in the Dbacks Clubhouse May 23, 2024 which helped the Dbacks pitchers learn how to throw their football slider better.
If a pitcher doesn’t want to learn he will notice other pitchers around him throwing better than him. This will force him to join the Roger Beshens Football Slider club.
@Roger Again you are here despite being provide numerous links showing the evolution of the sweeper. Traced through players such as Dotel, Cone, and many others. The dates are way before your claims. I’m assuming this is a feeble attempt at somehow profiting. Not sure if you noticed but nobody cares about your spamming, nor does anyone credit you.
Roger Beshens recently shared a video on his twitter featuring Torey Lovullo and Brent Strom. In the video they discussed his Football Slider and Roger discussed a strategy to Strom.
If Brent Strom or ANY MLB coach understood how to throw the sweeper at that time they would have done it. It did not occur.
Their teams would have learned it.
Every MLB team now uses the Roger Beshens Football Slider thanks to the information provided by Roger Beshens. Beshens brought about a major change in Major League Baseball.
If someone could have done that many years ago they would have.
Ricketts is not to be trusted. He is an inflexible tightwad who habitually deflects blame to his executives.
This winter the Cubs dealt a high-ceiling prospect (Alfonsin Rosario) who is a great candidate to breakout so they could save 5 mil on signing a middle reliever.
Ricketts and Hoyer both love to talk about the “health of the organization,” but what does the Rosario deal say about the health?
It’s a disgraceful red flag when a big market team has to basically sell its prospects because it wants to save a few mil on a middle reliever. But Hoyer spends 80% of his energy trying to figure out ways to save money & dumpster dive.
None of the media are holding Ricketts feet to the fire on this
@Ames Rosario has yet to prove anything and left alot to be desired while playing in A last season. Morgan is under team control for 3 years and was amazing last season. The Cubs are clearly aiming to contend in 2025, moving a player who showed some promise but also had his struggles and has not played above A ball is not indicative of anything other than a team whose trying to win now.
“He has yet to prove anything” but has absurd tools (power/arm/speed) and a very high ceiling. Big breakout candidate just like Zyhir Hope was when Cubs dealt him.
Yeah he hasn’t “proven anything” two years removed from HS, but don’t deal a guy with this kind of a profile for a middle reliever.
I can accept packaging high upside prospects for guys that really move the needle, but stuff like this is pure & simple money saving move for a team w/top 5 revenue but not even a top 10 payroll
It’s been a really long time since the Cubs have entered the season with a really compelling roster.
ZiPS loves the Cubs lineup this year but even if they sign a back end reliever & bench bat, as Hoyer suggested, they’re still a mid-rotation starter away from having the kind of compelling roster that gives them a decent shot.
It’s frustrating that they’re looking to hold on to 15-20 mil for the deadline–and signing a 5th starter type like Rea for 6 mil–rather than going out and getting a genuinely good SP who could bump others down the depth chart.
I don’t think I’ve ever been as disgusted with Cubs leadership as I am right now. It’s 100% on Ricketts and he refuses to directly address the problems. He obfuscates, talking about all the money they’re spending on community infrastructure etc. I would have more respect for him if he would admit what he’s doing.
Cardinals are looking for fans.
The Ricketts family are traitors, funding a convicted felon and rapist for President. They were able to buy a Governor seat and a Senate seat. Oligarchs
Just one more day! I’m excited!
That’s actually only half true. Laura Ricketts is militantly liberal and runs a super pac that runs in that direction. Has caused some issues of its own. We will leave the politics there. I am politically middle ground. As sit stands that doesn’t belong in the clubhouse or the field. Baseball is for everyone. It’s Americas past time.
Look, Cubs fan since age 7. Played baseball for RoeSkidmore short time Cubs. Cried in 2016 in front of my sons. What has been going on since 2018 and present. Horrible. They have destroyed the outside of Wrigley and the neighborhood vibe. More money than almost every team. It breaks my heart the price of tickets and now all the small locally owned bars and businesses gone, outside of Wrigley. If your going to do this, spend serious money. And Maybe. Maybe, if you hire some decent Talent and not be so woke and liberal on you Marquee Network. You make a Ship full of cash. Disgusting.
Get Bregman. Who I’ve known since childhood. Flagherty and closer. I personally think Amaya since changing stance will have a breakout season. PCA star waiting to shoot to sky and plenty of pieces in bull pen. Need bregman at3rd, daisy, Horner, and Busch. Best infield in MLB defense. PCA, Happ, And Tucker in Outfield. Wow. Good pitching staff.
Did you happen to be involved with Bergman’s cheating scandal? And are you sure Bregman can hit, outside of the phone booth that Houston has, in LF?
And exactly how much money is Bregman worth?
Got a bit of a chuckle hearing guys like Rea and Thielbar being referred to as “notables”
I’m so sick of Ricketts. Wasn’t long ago I thought he was our savior after we won the WS. Now I realize he has no interest in winning if it’s at the cost of any of his massive profits. We need ownership like the Mets or dodgers or else us cubs fans better enjoy 80-85 win seasons and the “wow, we won a playoff game” because that’s the best it’s gonna get with this fool Ricketts. I can’t stand Jed, but everyone who bashes him needs to see the real problem, it’s Ricketts, not Hoyer.
Hearing that the ever rich and getting better dodgers are now signing tanner scott for a paltry $7m, do cub fans really think that rickets and his partner Jed would be paying any reliever that amount even when serious problems exist in our pen saving games?
:::::Kyle Schwarber has left the chat:::::: giggles