Latest Juan Soto rumor should be insulting to the Chicago Cubs front office

Since Jed Hoyer took control of the Chicago Cubs front office, they are not a team that has been taken seriously regarding offseason spending.

One of the biggest examples of that was the circus that was Shohei Ohtani's free agency last winter. While national reporters did their best to keep the Cubs in the conversation for Ohtani, it was clear they were never involved. In other words, for the Cubs, why order Panda Express when you have instant ramen at home.

It seems that the Cubs will be spared from a similar charade this offseason. As Soto inches closer to reaching free agency next month, it's becoming increasingly clear that the Cubs will not be involved in his sweepstakes.

As long as Hoyer is the one running the Cubs' front office, there isn't going to be a realistic scenario where the team swims in the deepest waters of free agency. This means that when there is a "mystery team" that surfaces for a top free agent, it can be assured that the Cubs aren't that team.

Soto seems to have already had a mystery team emerge.

Latest Juan Soto rumor is a reminder of what could've been for the Cubs.

There is definitely reason to be skeptical of this "rumor" but the idea of it is what the Cubs should be. The Blue Jays were believed to be the runner-up for Ohtani last winter and what better consolation prize than signing Soto.

That type of aggressiveness is what Cubs fans have been longing to see from Hoyer's front office. That is the problem facing the team ahead of a 2025 season where the team will need to reach the postseason. Hoyer is operating with a lack of urgency that will likely result in him either succeeding or failing with the team's top prospects at the Major League level next season. It is an incredibly tone-deaf approach for a big market to have, but it is the laughable truth behind why free agents like Soto aren't taking the Cubs seriously.