3 offseason decisions the Cubs are paying dearly for right now

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We knew heading into the season that a lot of things were going to have to break in favor of the Cubs if the team was going to get back to October and win a postseason series for the first time since 2017.

To this point, that's not how things have played out and, with the first half winding down, Chicago's season sits upon the edge of a knife. The possibility the team will be sellers for a third consecutive summer is a very real one and a handful of decisions the front office made last summer played a big role in where the Cubs find themselves right now.

3: The Jameson Taillon signing looks like a huge miscalculation

Heading into the series finale against the Guardians with a 2-11 record on Sundays this year and Jameson Taillon on the mound was hardly confidence-inspiring. When the dust settled, despite a late-inning rally, the result was as expected: a Cubs loss.

The right-hander allowed five earned on seven hits in five innings, raising his ERA on the year to 7.07 in 14 starts. In those 14 outings, Chicago is a brutal 2-12, meaning they're four games over .500 with literally anybody else starting - hardly a figure that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside given this is year one of a four-year, $68 million deal.

As much as I want to be angry at the front office for this signing, there was nothing to suggest this type of regression coming in Taillon's numbers or underlying metrics. It seemingly came out of nowhere, maybe from trying to live up to the pressure associated with that contract, but the impact is the same regardless: $14 million this year that feels like it could have been better spent elsewhere.

2: The ill-fated Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini first base experiment

The only reason the Eric Hosmer signing made any sense was because the Cubs were only on the hook for the league minimum. But no one should have had any real expectations for the former Gold Glover and World Series champion. The numbers in recent years told you what he was at this point in his career - and his performance this year confirmed as much.

Hosmer appeared in 31 games for the Cubs, drawing way too many starts from manager David Ross, and was a subpar player both defensively and offensively, with a -0.6 bWAR and 66 OPS+ in 94 at-bats. Lauded for his clubhouse presence, Chicago desperately hung onto the veteran until finally cutting ties with him in late May.

The Mancini signing was - and still is - more defendable. The former Orioles fan favorite has always been a 'plus' bat with the ability to DH, play corner outfield or hold things down at first. The only problem this year is that his defense at first has made him completely unplayable at the position, evidenced on an international stage last weekend during the London Series.

After a slow start offensively, he's bounced back - but his issues at first led the Cubs to promote Matt Mervis, who struggled badly before getting optioned back to Iowa, and Jared Young, who's been solid in limited action. The first base position has been a major issue - and, when combined with the lack of a proven power bat in the lineup - has left holes in the lineup on a nightly basis.

1. Looking to the bargain bin when building out a bullpen

Look. This is a strategy that's worked extremely well for the Cubs in recent years and, if we're being honest, the last month has been much stronger for the bullpen - and that includes Michael Fulmer, who put up a 0.66 ERA in the month of June. But it's clear the front office could've brought in more proven commodities and addressed the lack of left-handed depth, both of which could have prevented the early season woes in the later innings.

On the year, it's been a very middle-of-the-pack showing for Chicago relievers - but Mark Leiter, Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather have emerged as quality options for Ross as the year has progressed. There's been a glaring need for left-handed options since Opening Day and the latest injury update on Brandon Hughes makes it clear that need is as pressing as ever.

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I'm not saying the solution is going out there and paying top-shelf money for ninth-inning guys. But there were established options available last winter and, instead of opening up the pocket book, Hoyer and Hawkins went with Fulmer and Brad Boxberger, who was ineffective and has been injured now since mid-May.

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