Making a case in defense of Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer

You've heard the expression "Devil's Advocate?" If the devil can have an advocate, I figure Jed Hoyer can have one, too. Indeed, the Cubs haven't made the playoffs since 2020. It's also true that Jed Hoyer did a terrible job shoring up the Cubs' bullpen heading into 2024. And, yes, there have been quite a few misses in free agency (I needn't remind anyone of Trey Mancini). I also seem to recall him deciding to non-tender Kyle Schwarber a few years back. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, I was getting ready to defend Jed Hoyer.

When it comes to making a defense, Jed could use F. Lee Bailey and Johnny Cochrane. Unfortunately for Hoyer, they are both deceased. So, it falls to me.

Jed Hoyer held his own with Cody Bellinger from start to finish

While Hoyer basically told Cody Bellinger not to let the door hit him on his way out of town, he really did a pretty job of negotiating with Bellinger over the last few years. First, it was the one-year pillow contract heading into 2023 - a deal that ended with him winning NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Last offseason, Bellinger returned on a deal that could have paid him about $80 million if he stuck around for all three years via a pair of player options. While that's not a great contract from the Cubs' point of view, it could have been much worse. Raise your hand if you would have been okay at the time if the Cubs had paid Bellinger north of $200 million. Honestly, many of us would have thought eight years at $200 million have been a great deal.

After Bellinger ruined everything and opted in for 2025, Hoyer and the front office actually did a pretty good job of moving that salary. Reports indicated the Yankees wanted the Cubs to kick in about $10 million to get the trade done. Ultimately, the Cubs kicked in $5 million - just $2.5 million a year - and got swingman Cody Poteet in return. But most importantly, the Cubs got $25 million in cap room to round out this roster.

Kudos to the Cubs president for the Shota Imanaga contract

Shota Imanaga was a revelation in his rookie season. The lefty went 15-3 with an ERA of 2.91, finishing fifth in National League Cy Young voting. He may have been the best free agent signing in all of baseball last offseason. Imanaga's four year, $53 million contract looks better by the day. Imanaga is a real-life example of that "intelligent spending" Hoyer loves to talk about.

Of course, Kyle Hendricks' $16 million contract for 2024 somewhat offset that, but I digress.

Dansby Swanson's contract situation could have been worse

Some Cubs fans aren't thrilled with how Dansby Swanson's first two years have gone. But I'm here to tell you the other contracts from that offseason look far worse. Xander Bogaerts signed with San Diego for 11 years and $280 million. He was worth just 1.2 bWAR in 2024 - and reports indicate the Padres are now taking calls on the infielder. If they're moving him, though, they're going to eat a massive portion of that contract - making the $5 million the Cubs sent the Yankees look like chump change.

Trea Turner, along with Carlos Correa, were the top free agent shortstops after the 2022 season. Turner signed with the Phillies for 11 years at $300 million. With almost a decade left on those deals, the jury is still very much out on how they'll age - and Turner's initial struggles with the Phillies are well-documented at this point.

Correa had a strange contract odyssey, in large part because of some funky medicals before eventually signing with the Minnesota Twins for six years at $200 million. His production has been spotty, in large part because of injuries. His combined WAR for his two years with the Twins is 5.1. That's not much for over $33 million a year.

Hoyer was under tremendous pressure to sign one of those four shortstops. All of those contracts were overpaid, but it could be argued that Swanson's contract is the least egregious (and, if we're being upfront, he's been the most productive member of the group in terms of WAR).

It would appear that the Cubs and Jed Hoyer have about $50 million left to spend this offseason. How well they spend it will probably determine his future. It seems that Hoyer works best when his job is on the line. If the team can get back on track and punch a postseason ticket in 2025, will Cubs fans view him differently? It certainly won't hurt.