Dansby Swanson doubles down on Cubs’ controversial 2025 failure

The Chicago Cubs' trade deadline performance in 2025 certainly played a part in their NLDS demise against the Milwaukee Brewers, as the team failed to add the starting pitcher (and offensive reinforcement) that it desperately needed ahead of October.

Andrew Kittredge was solid as a late-inning reliever, and Willi Castro was, in theory, a perfect fit as a utility man, but between Michael Soroka's injury-fueled tenure and Taylor Rogers' lack of impact, there was just wasn't much reason to believe in the Cubs more after the deadline than there was before it.

In both real time and after the fact, Cubs fans lamented the front office's choices last July. It was clear the roster couldn't compete with the league's best on Aug. 1, and the Brewers proved that in October.

But that hasn't stopped Dansby Swanson from continuing to defend Jed Hoyer's efforts, as relayed by ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

Dansby Swanson's defense of Cubs front office can't lead to more hesitancy in 2026

Swanson did defend the front office last summer as well, though he was vocal about the team's need for more arms ahead of the trade deadline. While Kittredge, Soroka, and Rogers did technically suffice on paper, fans knew they were nothing more than cheap, low-risk additions.

Ahead of a key 2026 season for the franchise, it's true that chemistry and fit are important. Alex Bregman and Edward Cabrera were excellent offseason gets because of their raw talent, but they also closed up some glaring roster holes. The team is no longer simply in a position to add great players and "figure it out later."

The problem, of course, is that Swanson's analogy isn't exactly inspiring. Duke's men's basketball program is legendary for a reason — and head coach Jon Scheyer has done an exemplary job replacing the legendary Mike Krzyzewski — but none of the transfers that the shortstop highlighted led Duke to the promised land. In fact, the Blue Devils haven't even advanced to the championship round under Scheyer, and the same can be said for Swanson and the Cubs.

Hopefully, that analogy doesn't prove as anything more than media lip service. This trade deadline will mark the one-decade anniversary of one of the most important trades in franchise history, when the Cubs went all-in on closer Aroldis Chapman. The boldness shown by Theo Epstein was commendable at the time, and became downright legendary once the North Siders broke the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Will Hoyer and company be able to muster the same courage this summer, assuming the Cubs are once again in a position to compete for a title? For the sake of Swanson's reputation with fans and the media, the answer will hopefully be yes.