Jed Hoyer's latest comments are proof Cubs need a major change in front office

Jed Hoyer met with reporters prior to the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, moving the Cubs to 11.5 games behind the Brewers for first place in the National League Central Division

What has been particularly annoying about Hoyer's scrums with the Cubs' beat is that he continues to hold up the 2023 season as if it should be an important mile marker for what the 2024 team should be. The math does not math for Hoyer considering the fact that the 2023 Cubs had to play above their projections in the second half of the season in order to get back in the postseason conversation. Even when the Cubs were in the conversation, having a near-100 percent chance of making the postseason at the beginning of September, the team regressed during the closing weeks of the season, missing the postseason by one game.

All this to say that Hoyer should not be holding the Cubs' 2023 performance as some important reminder of what this team can be. If anything, the 2023 performance, combined with the fact that bringing Cody Bellinger back was the only major move of the offseason, is confirmation that the Cubs are not a postseason contender.

Admittedly, for the first time this offseason, Hoyer did seem to admit that some reflection is needed, considering how the season has derailed.

"“I never stop asking questions about what I can do better,” Hoyer said. “What blind spots do I have, what things did I miss? Even when you’re going well, you have to ask those questions. So when you’re struggling, you have to ask those questions of yourself as well. Is there something on this team that I missed, that I didn’t see, did I miscalculate this or that? All those questions are totally fair.”"

- The Athletic

Hoyer's blind spots have become clear. He is afraid of losing any deal he makes, which is why his success rate in trades far exceeds his success rate in free-agent signings.

Under current regime, the Chicago Cubs' future is dark.

Hoyer's mindset becomes dangerous for the Cubs because baseball dictates that teams have to spend money on power pitching and power hitting. That doesn't align with Hoyer's approach and is why the team's offense is broken and the bullpen has no legitimate answers.

The only way the problem gets better is if there is some form of change in the Cubs' front office. Either Hoyer has to be replaced with a more aggressive decision-maker at the top of the baseball operation, or Carter Hawkins has to be replaced as a general manager. Overall, Hawkins has had an impact on the Cubs' pitching infrastructure, but his reserved approach is a detriment when it's similar to Hoyer's.