Chicago Cubs fans react to latest offseason disappointment

The 2023 offseason is off to a disappointing start for the Chicago Cubs and their fanbase. After the team missed the postseason in each of the past two seasons and waved farewell to cornerstone players such as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kyle Schwarber, there was an expectation set by the team this offseason that aggressive spending will occur in order to return the team to contention and relevancy in 2023.

To date this offseason, the Cubs are in the top-10 in regard to offseason spending this winter.

Spent on free agents this offseason (rounded million $)
~$3 BILLION TOTAL!

SF 463
NYM 462
NYY 412
PHI 387
SD 352
TEX 230
HOU 93
STL 88
CHC 86
TOR 63
LAA 53
BOS 48
TB 40
CLE 39
MIN 30
OAK 24
LAD 22
WSH 18
CWS 12
PIT 12
BAL 10
DET 10
COL 9
AZ 4
KC 3
ATL 1
CIN 1
SEA 1
MIA 0
MIL 0
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) December 14, 2022

For the Cubs, the $86MM spent this offseason was for two players in outfielder Cody Bellinger and veteran starting pitcher Jameson Taillon. Under the umbrella of the Cubs landing one of the premium free-agent shortstops available this offseason in Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson, the signings of Bellinger and Taillon make sense for a team that has the intention of competing in 2023. The issue for the Cubs is that they have missed on three of those shortstops and Swanson is the lone free-agent shortstop target that remains.

Correa signed a 13-year deal with the San Francisco Giants worth $350MM on Tuesday night and Cubs fans had thoughts.

... I just stopped coming up with names, but there are more.

MEANWHILE, the Cubs have subtracted Báez, Bryant, Rizzo, Contreras, Schwarber, Castellanos, Darvish.
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) December 14, 2022

Do you think we liked paying $6 a gallon of gas? No, but we got from point A to point B for that price

I’m sure the #Padres or #Giants aren’t thrilled to be spending $350 million over 13 years — but in this market that’s what it took.

The #Cubs are saying they don’t need gas.
— The Schmack Guy (@Ant_Pasquale3) December 14, 2022

Dansby would look good in Cubbie blue, just saying #dansbyswanson #cubs #mlb #baseball #sports #freeagent pic.twitter.com/HzfiyEb1Oc
— Caitlin Hendricks (@caitlinhendrix) December 14, 2022

Cubs fans remain worried about the optics coming from the team's front office.

I’m now worried about the optics the #Cubs have after this offseason, there were 2 days where it looked like they were ready to spend a lot. Now it’s back to what it’s been the last couple years of being afraid to spend and go after the big fish. Why would FA want to come here
— Davey Baseball (@Davey_Baseball) December 14, 2022

Cubs fans since 2018, every year, geared up for an exciting offseason, eager to see what moves they make.

The #Cubs pic.twitter.com/2KRiNrWhpd
— Sean McInerney (@seanmci) December 14, 2022

the environment the ricketts family has created, wiping their hands of responsibility & only stepping into cut back $ instead of adding it is bad. its inherently created a game of thrones, race to the bottom to see which FO members opinion can outlast the other. this isnt working pic.twitter.com/kdOsvriQtz
— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) December 14, 2022

More hopelessness for Cubs fans.

Tired of the lip service with no impactful action. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/PZddegiPx1
— Melissa ⚾️ (@Melissa_Cubsgrl) December 14, 2022

I simply ask the cubs ownership to sell the team. Clear out baseball operations , clear out business operations and start over in a different world. We were promised change, the #Cubs way… Is this really the cubs way? Because if it is I’m out!Not Paying for it anymore.
— Ryne (@ryne715) December 14, 2022

To be honest, it was nice of the #Cubs to let me know in December that I don’t need to watch them again this upcoming season. Really makes summer planning a lot easier
— Adam Senn (@AdamSenn1) December 14, 2022

Morale among Cubs fans regarding the future of the team is at an all-time low. With the Cubs' Convention returning next month, the team has a lot of damage control to conduct before then.

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