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The ability to make trades like that, though, can’t be the only club in your bag. The Cubs’ 2025 end-of-season payroll was, per Cot’s, $20 million less than it had been in 2024. The team’s projected 2026 Opening Day payroll, and it is still just January 8, is $15 million less than that. They’re $50 million shy of the first tax threshold, after being $10 million under it last year. I like the investments in the bullpen, but they amount to 10% of the payroll. The Cubs have a 90-win team for $194 million, and there’s just no reason for them to be satisfied with that.
It’s not enough to use talent instead of money to improve. The best front offices, the best baseball organizations, use talent in addition to money. The Cubs should make one more move -- Framber Valdez in front of this infield would look amazing -- to lock up favorite status in the NL Central.
