Former Chicago Cubs pitcher makes perfect pitch for signing Juan Soto

The biggest free agent on the market this winter will be outfielder Juan Soto. For a Chicago Cubs team that will enter the expectation of making the postseason in 2025, Soto would be the perfect addition to the team this offseason.

The issue with that is given the Cubs' spending habits in recent offseasons, the team can already be ruled out of Soto. The biggest reason why the Cubs will not be involved in Soto's market this offseason is because he likely will command a contract that exceeds $400MM in total value. It would be a steep ask of a Cubs' organization that has yet to sign a player with a contract value over $200MM.

Despite Soto's believed asking price, former Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster made the perfect argument for why Jed Hoyer should want to bring the superstar outfielder to Chicago.

Dempster's reasonings only emphasize why Hoyer's aversion to large contracts is going to be a mindset that will lead the Cubs to never having an external superstar. Yesterday's price is not today's price. The biggest reason why the Cub's previous rebuild was successful was that when the time was right, Hoyer's boss, Theo Epstein, went out and spent at the top of the market for the best free agents available.

Hoyer doesn't seem to believe in that strategy despite it being the easiest way for the Cubs to return to contention. And, if we're being honest, it's not easier said than done for a team like the Cubs. The Cubs can very easily afford to match Soto's asking price but are willingly avoiding the idea.

The crazy part of all of this is that the Yankees proved the difference that Soto can make. Prior to trading for Soto last offseason, there were questions about the Yankees' process and whether it would be successful. Now, despite recent struggles, the Yankees are a legitimate threat in the American League because of Soto. Superstar players change the dynamic of a team, but Hoyer has yet to come to that realization.