Many organizations around the game tend to keep the contract status of their front office executives under wraps, but some clubs opt not to do this. One such organization is the Cubs, who have been run by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer since he took over for Theo Epstein in November 2020. Hoyer’s contract is up after the 2025 season, a fact he himself acknowledged during Spring Training. While club chairman Tom Ricketts has previously spoken positively of Hoyer’s work at the helm, he’s stopped short in the past of offering a full vote of confidence and did not sign him to an extension prior to his lame duck season.
That could be a simple acknowledgement of the disappointment associated with the last several years of Cubs baseball. Chicago hasn’t made the playoffs under Hoyer’s guidance and last won a playoff game back in 2017. Some of those losing seasons were somewhat inevitable, as ownership cut payroll prior to the 2021 season and that lack of resources in conjunction with an early-season losing streak led to a massive trade deadline sell-off during Hoyer’s first season leading the front office. That kicked off a short rebuilding period where the team did not expect to win in 2022, but by 2023 the spending (and expectations) had ramped back up. That resulted in back-to-back 83-win seasons where Chicago missed the playoffs by a few games.
Entering 2025, the Cubs actually lowered payroll relative to 2024 after falling short in pursuits of top free agents like Alex Bregman and Tanner Scott. That didn’t stop them from being aggressive in other ways, though, as they surrendered a massive package to bring star outfielder Kyle Tucker into the fold for his final season before reaching free agency. The addition of Tucker, in conjunction with lower-level additions like Matthew Boyd, have so far allowed Chicago to weather the losses of front-of-the-rotation starters Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga and put themselves firmly in playoff position. The team has a 45-29 record entering play today, good for a 5.5-game lead in the division and the best record in National League.
Much of that success is due to young players Hoyer brought into the organization finding success. Pete Crow-Armstrong has developed into one of the game’s most exciting young stars after Hoyer acquired him from the Mets in exchange for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams at the 2021 trade deadline and Michael Busch has blossomed into one of the league’s better first basemen after being acquired from the Dodgers during the 2023-24 offseason. While less established than Crow-Armstrong and Busch, recent first-round picks Cade Horton and Matt Shaw have made their big league debuts and appear to be entrenched as long-term assets in the rotation and on the infield at this point.
While those positives are all exciting, the Cubs’ farm system has taken a bit of a hit after the trades that brought in Busch and Tucker. Hoyer surrendered Cam Smith, Jackson Ferris, and Zyhir Hope in those deals, each of whom have blossomed into exciting young talents with their new organizations. The team’s track record in free agency under Hoyer has been somewhat spotty as well. Deals struck with international free agents like Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki have proved to be relative bargains, and other large deals like those given to Dansby Swanson and Jameson Taillon have more or less returned the value expected from them. On the other hand, the Cubs were forced to eat some of Cody Bellinger’s contract just to get him off the books. Some mid-level additions in recent years like Drew Smyly, Hector Neris, and Trey Mancini offered minimal value while eating up considerable dollars in the team’s budget, as well.
No front office executive has a spotless track record. Hoyer is no exception to that, but his errors don’t stand out as particularly egregious compared to other execs around the league. With that being said, there aren’t many front office leaders around the game who have the same payroll capacity at their disposal without at least some playoff games to show for it. Big market teams like the Giants, Mets and Red Sox have made changes at the front office level due to lack of playoff success in recent years despite those teams having made the postseason more recently than the Cubs.
Ricketts hasn’t shown himself to have an itchy trigger finger during his time as chairman of the organization; Epstein was hired in 2011 and he remained with the organization until voluntarily walking away in 2020, at which point Ricketts handed the reins to Hoyer after years as Epstein’s GM. Perhaps that means a return to the playoffs will be enough to convince Ricketts to keep Hoyer in the fold. The Cubs seem well positioned to do that at this point in the calendar, and while things can certainly change over the next few months, it wouldn’t be a shock if this team made a deep run into the postseason.
How do MLBTR readers think the Cubs organization should proceed? Has Hoyer’s work developing the team’s farm system and delivering a legitimate contender in 2025 earned him a longer stay in Chicago, or should the organization move in another direction when his contract expires? Have your say in the poll below:
If he manages to extend (unlikely to happen) or re-sign Kyle Tucker. He should get at least a 2 year extension IF he does fhat.
Tucker extension is up to Ricketts.
Yes but if Jed extends Tucker he would have obviously been given permission to spend what he needed to keep Tucker
Agree with PT57. That’s up to Ricketts and Tucker. It’s best if Hoyer isn’t involved anyway after Swanson, Seiya and the Tanner Scott miss. He’s horrible at figuring out money and what players are worth.
Unclemike1526…there are likely many things to argue about Hoyer but you listed three bad samples. Dansby Swanson has put up an average $33M value for his for two years…above what they are paying him. Seiya Suzuki clocks in so far at about $23M, above his $17M average with both players well this season of what they did in previous years.
On top of that Tanner Scott is tied for the majors lead in blown saves.
So far Hoyer has surplus value on Swanson and Suzuki and did not miss on Scott who is projecting to less than a $3M salary and is getting paid almost $16M.
Hmm, if re-signing/extending Tucker is the bar, I don’t think Hoyer gets extended then.
It will take an overpay to retain Tucker because BOS and LAD will be gunning hard for him, but if you have to overpay someone they could do a lot worse than Tucker. That’s got to be their top priority this winter.
Didn’t see Boston in major pursuit, but perhaps. Was thinking Yanks/Phillies/Dodgers being the big 3 if he doesn’t hear a number to stay during season.
“While those positives are all exciting, the Cubs’ farm system has taken a bit of a hit after the trades that brought in Busch and Tucker. Hoyer surrendered Cam Smith, Jackson Ferris, and Zyhir Hope in those deals, each of whom have blossomed into exciting young talents with their new organizations.”
This is why Hoyer cannot be retained: Self-scouting. He is hugging prospects like Alcantara, Triantos, Rojas, who stall out in the minors and trading away prospects who blossom into superstars. He cannot evaluate his own in-house talent. He cannot project his own talent.
Blah—“trading away prospects who blossom into superstars”……please name ONE — ONE prospect that he has traded away that is a plus plus player let alone superstar.
Mike the article named them for you. Its in the paragraph I cited.
Superstar is a consistent 5 win player. If you’re referring to Cam Smith (who I’m a HUGE fan of and hated the value given up for Tucker seeing as I wanted Alcantara instead), he’a up to around 1.5 to 1.8 war. That’s a great start, but to call him a superstar now is delusional.
I’m also high on Ferris and Hope, but they’re still in the minors while Michael Busch already posted an above average line as a rookie, and is currently performing at an all star level.
None of these players are superstars. You are high. Hoyer also robbed the mets of PCA. Maybe factor that one in next time and be fair, seeing as PCA is already knocking on the superstar door
I read the article—not a single prospect he has traded has turned into a plus plus player yet. You said SUPERSTAR (I even gave you credit by quoting it)—I’m just looking for a plus plus player.
Here’s a very, very short list of prospects that Hoyer acquired—PCA, Busch, Brown, Palencia of which I would consider PCA and Busch as plus plus.
No matter how it is sliced and diced Hoyer is WAY WAY WAY WAY ahead on acquiring prospects versus trading them away since he has taken over.
@blah: You’re right–but it’s also that the other teams aren’t interested in the Cubs’ stalled prospects. I suspect Hoyer offered Caissie, Alcantara et al to the Astros, but they insisted on Smith.
Brett Taylor is an appalling source of disinformation on this point, btw: he insists that nonentities like Triantos and Rojas are hot properties, and touts all kinds of low-A pitchers who will never make it. He is part of the reason many Cubs fans are so confused about the farm system.
I would only extend Hoyer if they win the World Series.
How about a poll on should Rickets sell the team?
No on Hoyer whatever happens.
Just curious: I respect (most of) your judgment. Do you guys still think the Cubs are going to win the division?
The past two seasons, they’ve collapsed right at the end so…
I want to believe, I really do…
They should win the division. That was all they were built for. Good news is the pitching is looking solid without a major trade.
Imanaga back soon
Wicks back
Horton and Brown doing Ok
Sanders is good. I know he’s on the develpment list but that was done for Imanaga to make his start I’m pretty sure
Birdsell just started his rehab
Noland is doing fine
Assad should be throwing soon
So they have some in house options
Bullpen was due for an implosion. As long as it’s not an everyday thing OK
Hodge back soon
Neely’s been pretty shaky
Fulmer, Little and Hollowell were doing fine but I don’t know what happened to him as he’s on the IL now.
So they have options there
Maeda and Cabrera are stinking now so they can go.
Wiggins and Gallagher and now Flanagan is back from TJ and in A ball looking good.
Hoyer needs to keep it in his pants and keep his moves simple unless an absolute gift drops in his lap. But he’s a lame duck so batten down the hatches and wait for dumb move.
And I read somewhere the Cubs should draft another SS. If he does that he should be fired before the ink dries on the form they turn in to Manfred. Take that P from Ark or any other P for that matter. Or maybe a C. Let’s try that once huh?
@Uncle: I don’t think there is going to be a major trade, or anyone being traded that we’ll be outraged to see go. I think Hoyer will mostly stand pat. I also think he’s going to get an extension well before July 31; he’s in no jeopardy. Ricketts loves him with an almost Reinsdorfian loyalty. He got PCA, after all, who is putting the asses in the seats.
The lineup needs another good hitter. That is partly because Tucker, alas, has not been the “transformative” presence we hoped he would be. He’s a good hitter, but not a difference-maker, and he doesn’t get his hits with men on base, and no, that isn’t a random thing.
I’m hoping his recent lethargic play and poor hitting might be a lingering effect of the hand injury, and that he’ll have more impact in the second half, but I have lost faith that that will happen.
I like “trusting the process” and “staying within yourself” and “being consistent” as much as the next guy–but jeez, can Tucker show a little oomph out there now and then? His affect–and his game–bespeak someone who thinks he’s too cool for school.
The only way the cubs can lose is if the brewers or cardinals have a strong season
Cardinals have no star power and brewers are too gutted and have too many unproven players so I don’t know how counsell can screw up this cubs season
I’m afraid the Cardinals have something better than “star power”–a balanced, good team. But we’ll see. We’ll learn a lot next week.
If you keep typing “we’ll learn a lot next week.” sooner or later you’re going to get one right Alan.
So far the Cubs have survived the “we’ll see when they play the Padres and Dodgers.” Then, let’s not forget how the Marlins and White Sox were going to beat them.
There are only 38 numbers on that roulette wheel—I respect your deep pockets of Cubby knowledge—you will hit one at some point.
@mike: LOL. We’re all on the same side here. And sure, I was happily wrong before. And sure, eventually the other teams tell you how good you are, so we’ll see.
Extension as long as Kyle schwarbers option with the cubs.
Do I need to say it? LOL
Ndeeds spends too much time on Bleacher Nation. This is more “sunshine and lollipops” than a Brett Taylor article.
My thoughts, Hoyer and Hawkins both stay. I have been critical on both of these guys in the past. Most times my criticism is fair and justified. I do believe that both Mr. Ricketts and Mr. Kenney like Hoyer. Lastly, I don’t believe they went to go through the process of hiring a new team President. That is unless there’s some seismic event that turns things against Hoyer.
1st of all, I am Brewers fan. That being said, The Cubs would be crazy to let Hoyer walk. Also Hawkins. I’d love to see them lose both, but you are crazy if you think these guys are not the answer. If I were a Cub fan, id be saying sign both of em back in a heartbeat. But im not, so hopefully they let em both walk away!
I’d say hold off until what he does about the pitching relieving and starters because after witnessing today’s fiasco against the mariners, the cubbies look to be leveling off shortly.
Would u not admit that cal Raleigh is having better season than Tucker or pca given the demanding position he plays and that home ballpark?
Cal Raleigh is having a better year than Ohtani at about 1/70th of the price, but thanks for using Tuck and PCA as data points.
And small hint–before you call out that home ballpark of Seattle, which does have the toughest ball park factor in the game…….Wrigley Field is has the second toughest ball park factor rating behind Seattle including years 2023-2025.
No, hoyer completely done yet or is Tucker or rickets!
Bruce, I understand it is Friday evening, but put the bottle down go to the cabinet and take out the “Hooked on Phonics” box. Please translate what you were attempted to convey there.
lmAO
Pass on Hoyer regardless of if we extend Tucker or make the playoffs.