Dream offseason scenario for the Chicago Cubs would be a deflating disaster

Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts says that the time is now for the team to return to "championship caliber," but these are words that do not instill confidence, considering it has been Ricketts' mandates that have placed the Cubs in the unique position that they are in this offseason.

The Cubs have a President of Baseball Operations in Jed Hoyer, who is entering the final year of his current contract with the team. The team also has approximately $70MM in spending available this offseason. However, if Cody Bellinger opts out, that number jumps up to just under $100MM before the Cubs reach the first level of the luxury tax, $241MM for the 2025 season.

Given Hoyer's aversion to spending at the top of the free-agent market, it goes without saying the Cubs are going to need to have a near-perfect offseason in order for the team to enter the 2025 season with legitimate expectations of reaching the postseason.

If the Cubs' "dream offseason" scenario is the one outlined by Michael Brakebill of FanSided, it would be a deflating disaster. In the moves outlined in this scenario, the Cubs could add one of Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, or Tanner Scott and it would be a dream come true for the Cubs' organization.

The Cubs' preference for pitching shouldn't mask the offseason priority of adding offense.

Here is the issue with any of these additions: None of the players mentioned would address the fact that the Cubs have routinely struggled to do the one thing that is prominent during the postseason: hitting the ball over the fence.

Of course, yes, adding Burnes should be a move that changes the discussion surrounding the Cubs. The addition of Burnes to the top of their starting rotation gives the Cubs a potential postseason rotation of Burnes, Justin Steele, and Shota Imanaga. If the Cubs are going to avoid their offensive need, this rotation would be the only solution.

For as great as Fried has been with the Atlanta Braves, if the Cubs are going to pay a premium for a starting pitcher, the pitcher better be Burnes. Fried was dominant in May and September last season but his 5-run outing against the San Diego Padres in the postseason should be caution for the Cubs if they plan of targeting him above their need on offense.

As for Scott, a reminder is that paying for a closer during the offseason does not always equate to success and that can be confirmed by looking at the remaining closers still pitching in the postseason.

Luke Weaver signed a $2MM deal with the New York Yankees last offseason and emerged as the team's closer by the end of the season due to the frequent struggles of Clay Holmes. Emmanuel Clase has been with the Cleveland Guardians since 2021. Edwin Díaz was acquired by the New York Mets via trade in December of 2018. Even the Dodgers, for all their spending last offseason, did not spend a premium for a closer, instead, using a combination of arms groomed throughout their organization or in-season additions of Michael Kopech.

Paying a closer during the offseason is not an automatic translation for success. Just ask the Houston Astros after they signed Josh Hader last offseason only to be swept in the Wild Card round by the Detroit Tigers.

If Scott is the dream addition to the Cubs' offseason, then chances are the return championship-caliber baseball for the team won't be next season.