1 desperate Cubs move for Jed Hoyer, 1 for Craig Counsell, and 1 for Tom Ricketts

For better or worse, it seems that Chicago Cubs fans will be stuck with Craig Counsell, Jed Hoyer, and Tom Ricketts as the hierarchy of the Cubs organization for multiple years ahead. Counsell has been gaining influence in his second year as the Cubs' manager, and Hoyer signed a multi-year extension before the MLB trade deadline.

The Cubs' front office has grown comfortable, which is why Hoyer's decision to trade for Kyle Tucker last offseason breathed new life into the organization. At the time, Hoyer was in the final year of his contract, and made a move where the sole intent was on winning in 2025. That same sense of urgency evaded Hoyer at the deadline, and it's hard not to connect the dots to the extension that was reported just days before.

Something must change for these three, otherwise the Cubs risk always being the afterthought to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

Jed Hoyer needs to find a general manager who will challenge him

Given the trade for Tucker, it's wild that Carter Hawkins admitted that the Cubs were taking 2032 into account when the team was deciding between moves to make at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. In the back of every Cubs fan's mind, it was a thought that crept in once Hoyer's extension was signed, but Hawkins' comments are direct confirmation.

A front office that has Hoyer and Hawkins as the two top decision-makers is not one that is going to be successful. It's not clear what Hawkins' contract status currently is, but entering the season, the belief was that he is in the final year of his deal. The best thing that Hoyer can do is find a general manager who will challenge his passive approach.

Craig Counsell needs to leave Dansby Swanson at the bottom of the starting lineup

Matt Shaw has been on a heater since the All-Star break, and it would seem that we've reached the point where a lineup change is in order. Shaw certainly deserves to be moved up in the order, but more importantly, Dansby Swanson can't be hitting in the middle of the lineup moving forward. As each season passes, it seems that Swanson's true value to the Cubs is only through his defense, and that isn't ideal.

Tom Ricketts needs to not treat the luxury tax like a salary cap

There isn't a scenario where Tom Ricketts is going to sell the team, so you can discard that idea right away. The biggest thing that is setting the Cubs back is not that they aren't spending money; they are, just not in the way many fans hope they would. Before this season, the Cubs had treated the luxury tax as a soft salary cap. A problematic stance as it didn't allow the Cubs to spend to correct their mistakes. That needs to change moving forward, especially if the Brewers are going to be better at every other aspect of baseball than the Cubs.

Side note: Even for the Cubs' trend, the 2025 season has been deceiving. The trade deadline has passed, and the Cubs are still nearly $30MM under the luxury tax threshold. Scared money doesn't make money, and the Cubs are finding that out this season.

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