Sounds like Cubs fans aren’t the only one questioning the team’s direction these days

As teams continue to meet with a generational talent in Juan Soto who, at just 26 years of age, is poised to land the largest free agent deal in MLB history, the Chicago Cubs - worth north of $5 billion by some valuations - are quietly sitting on the sidelines, perusing Facebook Marketplace for their offseason roster additions.

At least that's the sense ESPN insider Jeff Passan gets from those he's talked to throughout the sport. He 'hasn't gotten the sense' the team is poised to make big-dollar deals this offseason, despite finishing a whopping 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the division this year.

When Cody Bellinger decided to return in 2025, nearly $30 million hit the books in one fell swoop. Still, Chicago is comfortably under the first CBT threshold - but continues to think like a small-market team. That approach has been Jed Hoyer's signature since taking over from his mentor Theo Epstein back in 2020 and it shows no signs of changing anytime soon.

Passan points out that, even with Bellinger back - and with Seiya Suzuki having arguably the best season of his MLB career - this is a roster full of 'good' players, rather than 'great' ones. And the question that's raised then is the one that's kept Cubs fans up at night in recent years: how do you win championships without great players?

The short answer? You don't. Not in today's game.

Granted, there's a lot of offseason left and only small moves have been made to this point. There's a lot of time for Hoyer to change the narrative and prove us all wrong. But believing there's a dramatic change in philosophy coming from the front office and ownership is tantamount to believing the Bears weren't going to somehow find a way to lose that game to the Packers on Sunday.

There's nothing but disappointment and pain at the end of it.