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With the calendar flipped to 2026, we are a little over one month away from the start of spring training. The offseason has been quiet for the Chicago Cubs. They have reconstructed their bullpen but have yet to address the need they have in the starting rotation, and the team may be misjudging the departure of Kyle Tucker.
Regardless of how the Cubs finish the offseason, the goal for 2026 remains the same as it was last season: end the Milwaukee Brewers' run at the top of the National League Central. For all the Cubs fans who wanted to discredit the Brewers' success during the regular season, the playoffs proved once again that Milwaukee was the better baseball operation.
3 New Year's resolutions for Cubs in quest for 2026 takedown of Brewers
A New Year isn't complete without resolutions. If the Cubs are going to leap past the Brewers in 2026, these are the resolutions they must have. We're also keeping these realistic. Yes, finding a way to bring back Tucker would be the perfect resolution for 2026. Yet, every indication is that the Cubs have no interest in doing so.
Make Michael Busch an everyday first baseman
There was no reason for Justin Turner to be taking starts away from Michael Busch last season. Turner proved to be fine against left-handed pitchers last season, but Busch was one of the Cubs' top offensive contributors in 2025 and led the team in home runs. Assuming Tucker is not back with the Cubs, Busch needs to be in the lineup every day.
Don't act afraid at the MLB Trade Deadline
The MLB Trade Deadline deflated the excitement of the Cubs' 2025 season. Sure, that was around the time that the Brewers caught up to the Cubs in the division, but the deadline could have been how the Cubs corrected the issue. Instead, they scoffed at the asking prices and wound up shorthanded during the playoffs. That can't happen again.
Place injured players on the IL
It's kind of silly that we even have to say this out loud, and yes, the players have to agree, but if someone is hurt, they need to be placed on the IL. The Cubs have been burned in recent seasons when the likes of Tucker and Dansby Swanson have tried to play through an injury. It hurt the team more than it helped. Proper injury management is the sign of a healthy baseball operation, and the Cubs haven't had that in recent years.