Cubs' Jed Hoyer is on the hot seat - but it's hard to envision Tom Ricketts moving on

When Theo Epstein packed his bags and handed the keys to Jed Hoyer, he left his longtime right-hand man with quite a mess to clean up. That included an underperforming roster riddled with what was once believed to be the core of an impending dynasty heading into walk years and a farm system that ranked near the bottom of the league.

Fast-forward almost four years and Hoyer's legacy to this point is blurry, at best. He's revamped the farm system (despite recent rankings suggesting a more middle-of-the-pack assessment after this year's graduations) and hit on some key moves, including the free agent signing of Shota Imanaga and trade for Michael Busch.

But at the end of the day, this is a results-based business and the results have not been there. Since the start of the 2021 season, Chicago is 285-318 (.472) and has not made the postseason once.

How bad would the Cubs have to be for Tom Ricketts to make a change?

Now, the reasons for that drought can be debated and re-hashed over and over, but the buck will stop with Hoyer if it continues. According to the latest mailbag over at The Athletic (subscription required), Hoyer 'is on the hot seat' and 'there's no denying that', suggesting it's October or bust for the Cubs' president of baseball ops in 2025.

As the season winds down and the team's Hail Mary-level postseason chances hang by a thread, the shopping list for the winter is clear: adding proven arms to the pitching staff, especially in the bullpen, adding an established catcher, and, as has been the case for years, an elite superstar talent in the middle of the lineup.

Checking all those things off the list in one offseason is easier said than done, but that's the job Hoyer is tasked with. But even if he fails at that task, would ownership really cut ties with him? He's executing a value-driven plan of attack that aligns perfectly with how the Ricketts family wants their team run.

They've made it clear they want no part of going toe-to-toe with teams like the Dodgers or Mets for superstar free agents, despite a long-standing need for that exact type of player in the lineup. I think it would take a full-blown repeat of 2024 or worse for Ricketts to move on from Hoyer next fall - but if there is notable progress and the Cubs are in it down to the wire, he could very well keep him around.