4 Chicago Cubs players that will be gone after the 2024 season
Predicting four players who won't be around in a Chicago Cubs uniform past the 2024 season based on roster moves and contracts.
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With the 2024 season around the corner, the Chicago Cubs have still yet to sign a major league contract. All that figures to change soon and how they do so will impact the current roster moving forward. It's essential to remember that players on the team can be squeezed out of a roster spot for several reasons as time goes on during the upcoming campaign. Here are four Cubs that won't be back after the 2024 season.
4 Cubs players who will be gone after 2024 - Patrick Wisdom
With how much of a bench role Patrick Wisdom was limited to at the end of 2023, it's a surprise that he's even being tendered a contract for 2024. I understand he has desired pop in his bat against lefties, but he has unfortunately been unable to succeed in any other spot offensively. To make matters worse, he has been the worst defender on the Cubs by the numbers over the past two seasons.
Wisdom's days in a Cubs uniform are numbered, and he's around for now when that opportune match-up to pinch hit against a lefty does come up. He will also draw the occasional start against southpaws, but once the front office figures out what to do at third base, his playing time will dry up altogether, especially if the Cubs sign a DH this winter.
4 Cubs players who will be gone after 2024 - Yan Gomes
As solid as Yan Gomes has been in his two years with the Cubs, especially in 2023, I don't believe he will be extended after the 2024 season concludes. With Miguel Amaya looking to take the reigns this season and multiple catching prospects near the MLB status, Moises Ballesteros could be ready by the start of 2025 as a backup option if he continues to excel. My money is on Ballesteros doing well this year after slashing 285/.374/.449 across three levels in 2023.
If Gomes has another good year at the plate in 2024, it will benefit the team, so they don't have to fast-track the 20-year-old Ballesteros. In that case, we will have to wait and see if he is brought back on a one-year deal for 2025. Still, Gomes is entering his age 37 season, and although he is a fine game-caller, the Cubs can afford to get younger behind the plate. His projected slash for 2024 is .252/.298/.400 of 91 contests.
4 Cubs players who will be gone after 2024 - Drew Smyly
Drew Smyly will end his 2024 campaign with a $10MM mutual option that the Chicago Cubs decline. Unless Smyly completely wows in 2024 and has a career season, the experiment of bringing him back thus far has not panned out. The Cubs hoped he could be a starting pitcher in the rotation, but he lost that position in 2023 and was limited to most bulk relief options. As a starter, Smyly recorded a below-league-average 4.38 ERA and allowed an opponent slash line of .256/.313/.454.
As a reliever, Smyly did better, posting a 3.16 ERA, but for $10MM, the Cubs could get a much more viable reliever. The team also has many prospects eyeing starting pitching and relief roles in 2025. For example, for a team with plenty of depth, the Cubs still have Cade Horton, Ben Brown, and Bailey Horn, who are hopeful they will be on the big league roster by then. Luke Little, Javier Assad, Mark Leiter Jr., Julian Merryweather, and Adbert Alzolay will remain under contract. Expect Smyly to be gone after 2024 unless he has a career season.
4 Cubs players who will be gone after 2024 - Christopher Morel
I am going out on a limb here and saying Christopher Morel doesn't finish 2023 in a Cubs uniform. He won't be traded this offseason, but given that the Cubs are looking to compete in 2024, they will need to add at the trade deadline. That is where a strong buy will need to come in to push the Cubs into serious contention, and a bat like Morel's can be a strong piece of any return in a trade. It will be interesting to see how much Morel contributes at the MLB level next year, given how much thump he possesses in his bat.
In 2024, we want Morel to hit a higher average while maintaining the thunder he possesses at the dish. He crosses over into the untouchable category if he can get better defensively. Still, until that happens, I have him pegged as unfortunate trade bait, as he is without a permanent position to play. The Cubs still have a lot of shopping this winter, so it will be interesting to see where the Cubs wind up playing Morel this season.
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