Jed Hoyer's inflexibility remains biggest roadblock on Cubs' path to World Series

Three relievers and a bench player.

That is the entirety of the Chicago Cubs' 2025 trade deadline haul.

You'll notice that I didn't say the words "starting" or "pitcher", and that's because the Cubs didn't acquire one. Yes, Michael Soroka can fill that need in a pinch, but he's far better suited for the long reliever role Keegan Thompson and Chris Flexen have filled in recent seasons.

This isn't to say this deadline was an outright failure; in fact, had the Cubs gone out and gotten the starting pitcher they were long rumored for, this quartet would have profiled as perfect ancillary pieces.

But, they didn't get a starting pitcher. And it's Jed Hoyer's fault.

Jed Hoyer deserves blame for Cubs' lackadaisical trade deadline

There's effectively become two sides in Cubs fandom: those who give Jed Hoyer credit where credit is due, and those who don't.

I've increasingly become disillusioned with his vision for the franchise. We've never seen a trade deadline with him at the helm where the Cubs were surefire buyers before. Expectations probably got too high, but there was still plenty of room between those lofty hopes and reality.

Instead, as he's always done, Jed Hoyer took things down to the wire, overplaying his exceptionally patient hand and letting the deadline pass him by without bringing in the starting pitcher the team so desperately needed.

He tried to explain away their inaction as a result of the market, noting that none of the big, controllable starters were dealt.

It's great to prolong a window of contention by making smart moves. It's also great to, you know, take advantage of a window of contention.

The Cubs are built for this year more than any other. We can all try to convince ourselves that this ownership group will approve a $500 million contract for Kyle Tucker, but deep down, we all know the truth. This is a one-year fling, and it'd make the memories a lot sweeter if it came with a World Series ring.

Simply put, this Cubs front office under Hoyer creates internal valuations on its own players and players on other franchises. When trade discussions or free-agent negotiations happen, the team simply will not budge from its valuation. No matter the circumstance or player. It is the M.O. that has gotten the Cubs to this point, and it is the one that has left Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd without a reinforcement atop the rotation for this season's stretch run.

Only time will tell if Hoyer's frustration-inducing patience will angle the Cubs toward a championship. At least he has a brand new extension to show for his unflinching ways.