Cubs Rumors: Rival GMs believe Brewers forced uncomfortable offseason pivot

The GM meetings are taking place in Las Vegas this week, and it is often where Major League Baseball teams set the stage for the offseason ahead. Occasionally, there is a free-agent signing completed, but this week is usually when parameters for potential deals are established. That was the case for the Chicago Cubs last year, when the GM meetings were where they first approached the Houston Astros about a trade for Kyle Tucker.

Tucker is this offseason's biggest free agent, but the Cubs aren't expected to be at the forefront of his bidding. However, that doesn't mean that the Cubs won't be active. The early buzz from the GM meetings is that the Cubs could be the offseason's "biggest sleeper". USA Today's Bob Nightengale spoke with several GMs who expect the Cubs to be aggressive this winter.

The impression from rival GMs is that the Cubs' finishing behind the Milwaukee Brewers was a wake-up call for the front office, and the team is expected to be in the bidding for the top free-agent starting pitchers. Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease get specific mentions.

Rival GMs are once again using the Cubs as leverage for free agency.

Generally, this is an offseason where the Cubs should be aggressive. They have over $100MM in payroll space freed up, and on paper, are worse today than they were at the end of the 2025 season. If the goal is to beat the Brewers, there is ample incentive for the Cubs to finally flaunt their financial advantage over their division rival.

The issue is that we have been down this road before. At the start of every offseason, the Cubs are pointed to as the team that could have an expensive winter. If your rival GMs and agents, it makes sense to float that idea out there--either to drive up the price for teams they are competing against, or drive up the price of the players they are representing. Chances are that is what is at play with Nightengale's latest, as opposed to the Cubs finally being ready to return to being a big-market spender.

For every national report begging the Cubs to be aggressive during the offseason, there hasn't been an internal indicator from the team that they plan on doing so. For better or worse, waiting out the market is how the Cubs will operate, and that will often lead to them being forced to sidelines for the top names of free agency. Maybe that will change this offseason, but it's not likely.