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3 Cubs players who could see large role in 2025, and 2 who should not
The end of the Chicago Cubs' 2024 season is nearing, and the focus is beginning to shift to the 2025 season.
The Cubs will not admit that fact until they are mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, but any fan should begin looking at the 2024 roster with an eye toward how the team can improve this offseason.
Changes will be needed this offseason. If the Cubs do not make the postseason in 2025, it means that Jed Hoyer would have gone his entire contract as the team's President of Baseball operation without reaching the postseason once.
While the Cubs certainly would not fire Hoyer this offseason, if the team misses the postseason in 2025, there's no pathway Tom Ricketts should ask the executive to return.
The issue is that Hoyer has yet to have confidence of the fanbase. Hoyer seems to have placed an emphasis on the Cubs finding internal solutions to their problems rather than being aggressive with external moves. It's a philosophy that not only fits Hoyer's approach to being the decision-maker within a baseball organization but also the contractual status of the team's position players.
If Cody Bellinger does not opt-out after the season, the Cubs' starting lineup is just about penciled in. This means Hoyer will either need to be creative this offseason in making improvements or shift the importance of some players on the roster.
With that in mind, here is a look at three Cubs' players who should have expanded their roles in 2025 and two who should not.
5. Miguel Amaya
One of the biggest questions of the 2024 season for the Cubs was whether or not Miguel Amaya would answer the call as the long-term starting catcher of the team.
The early answer to that question was a resounding no. Amaya's offensive struggles during May and June are one of the largest reasons why the Cubs' offense went dormant during the middle months of the season. That's not to say that Amaya's offensive struggles are the reason why the Cubs' offense broke, but he was among the worst-hitting catchers in Major League Baseball to open the season.
The hot steak that Amaya had in July and August is proof that he does belong on a Major League roster. However, Amaya's 36 wRC+ during the month of September should give the Cubs caution in entering the 2025 season with him as their starting catcher.
Result: Amaya's role on the 2025 roster should be diminished as the Cubs look for a more consistent offensive profile at the catching position. Amaya still could serve as the team's backup catcher.
4. Pete Crow-Armstrong
Chicago Cubs starting center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is probably going to be the breakout player on the team's roster in 2025.
It's been a gradual ascension for Crow-Armstrong this season in his efforts to become a starting outfielder at the Major League level. Crow-Armstrong's offensive struggles to open the season suggested that the Cubs may be in trouble, but his resurgent second half of the season has placed him firmly into being in the conversation to be the Cubs' best blue-chip player.
Even as Crow-Armstrong's offense has turned the corner this season, he has remained near the bottom of the team's starting lineup. Given the speed that he has, the next step for Crow-Armstrong may be getting as many plate appearances as possible.
As the Cubs' focus shifts to the 2025 season, Crow-Armstrong will be a player that the front office circles as a reason for optimism.
2025 Prediction: Crow-Armstrong should have a larger role in 2025 and be at the top of the Cubs' starting lineup.
3. Jorge Lopez
Jed Hoyer may not prioritize bullpen additions during the offseason but if there is one thing he has proven to be excellent at, it's finding reclamation projects in-season and the teams' pitching infrastructure being the reason the relief pitcher finds success.
Jorge López is the latest example of that. Since signing a minor-league deal with the Cubs earlier this season, López has posted a 2.19 ERA in 22 appearances. Given the success that López had had this season, he is in a position to be in a Major League bullpen at the start of the 2025 season.
Given how the Hector Neris experiment turned out, it seems unlikely that Hoyer will spend on a veteran reliever this winter. López should be inexpensive, and given his success with the Cubs this season, there is likely interest in returning to the North Side next season.
2025 prediction: López should be re-signed by the Cubs and his role in the bullpen should be expanded to being one of the primary high-leverage relief pitchers.
2. Patrick Wisdom
One of the more inexplicable preferences of Craig Counsell this season has been routinely pinch-hitting Patrick Wisdom for Michael Busch during the final innings of a game, to avoid Busch facing a left-hander out of the opposing team's bullpen.
Looking beyond the fact that Busch has become an anchor in the Cubs' starting lineup and shouldn't be replaced for any pinch hitter, it rings especially true when the pinch hitter replacing him is Wisdom. The 2024 season will mark the first full-season with the Cubs where Wisdom does not register at least 20 home runs and it's, in part, due to the fact that he only has 153 plate appearances this season.
Wisdom has already seen his role on the Cubs diminished and the final move will likely come this offseason.
2025 prediction: Wisdom's diminished role this season forecasts him not being on the roster in 2025.
1. Ben Brown
Ben Brown seemed to be on track for cementing his spot in the Chicago Cubs starting rotation for the long term when he made his Major League debut earlier this season.
Through 15 appearances this season, 8 starts, Brown posted a 3.58 ERA while averaging over 10 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. Brown was one of the Cubs' top pitching prospects at the start of the season and his initial run at the Major League level seemed to be worthy of the hype.
Unfortunately, Brown hasn't pitched since June 8 as he has been dealing with a neck issue. The hope is that by the time that the 2025 season starts, Brown is ready to go.
2025 prediction: If healthy, Brown needs to have a larger role on the Cubs' pitching staff. The easiest path to that expanded role may be as a high-leverage relief pitcher that can pitch multiple innings.
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