Cubs' offseason plans could hinge more on Matt Shaw, Pedro Ramirez than anyone expects

In case you missed it, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer dropped a massive hint for the team's offseason plans. During his end-of-the-year press conference, Hoyer discussed how important Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez were for the team's bench depth in 2026, and that he expects to lean on both players more in the future. This is a big reveal and evidence that Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki's futures likely won't bring them back to Chicago.

Hoyer specifically mentioned that he didn't need to rely on Ramirez and Shaw as everyday corner outfielders, but that both men are capable of that job.

"We can ask more of them, I think, going forward. We didn't have to this year given the nature of our corner outfield. But I think they both can certainly do that and I think we will definitely lean on both of those guys more heavily going forward. "

Jed Hoyer

It sure sounds like Hoyer is planning for Happ and Suzuki to be gone next year. It's a tough pill to swallow since Suzuki is the third-best hitter in the lineup, but his age (33 next year) and price tag are probably beyond what the Cubs are comfortable with. Especially when they are already committing two of the largest contracts in team history to Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson, both of whom are also in their 30s and past their physical prime.

After hearing Hoyer's words, I'm not expecting the Cubs to ink a beefy contract with a position player this offseason. While Ramirez and Shaw have the team's and much of the fanbase's respect, this approach has its risks.

Chicago's offense may regress in 2027 without offseason additions

The unfortunate reality is that the Cubs' offense, which was among the best in franchise history, will not be as productive with Shaw and Ramirez manning both corner outfield spots. Unless one or both of them can significantly improve their ability to hit for power, I think regression is a likely outcome.

It's unfortunate to hear Hoyer say this so early. I understand that there needs to be significant investment on the pitching side, especially with five starters hitting the open market. But neglecting to flex your financial muscle and at least pursuing a reunion with Suzuki or another top name like Randy Arozarena puts you at an unnecessary disadvantage. This is a strength that no other team in the National League Central has, and one they need to capitalize on if they hope to win the division again anytime soon.

But it seems like the front office wants to preserve its financial flexibility for pitching, and rely on the players they already have to replace their outgoing position players. We'll just have to wait and see if this approach will be successful or not.

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