The Chicago Cubs’ season ends in a disappointing outcome. As a Cubs fan, hopes were high coming into the preseason, during the season, and into the playoffs. The fans thought the franchise was destined to win a championship this year, but the club fell short of that goal.
The Cubs were one game short of advancing to the National League Championship Series. This was their first time competing in the MLB Playoffs since 2020. Chicago faced the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Round and won. They were then faced with a tough National League Division Series matchup, the Milwaukee Brewers. As the Cubs’ season is over until February, the team is looking to improve the squad for the 2026 team.
During the final Wild Card round, when the Cubs beat the SanDiego Padres, according to Fox32 Chicago, Chris Kwiecinski, newly acquired reliever Andrew Kittredge, made this comment, “The moment’s not too big for anybody seemingly, and guys just stepped up.” Kittredge added, “There wasn’t really a panic in the clubhouse. I know we lost, but I don’t think our confidence ever faded.” During Jameson Taillon’s first start of the postseason as pitcher for the Cubs, he went four innings. Taillon was able to hold the Padres’ top three hitters to a combined 0-11 in a win-or-go-home Game three. After the game, Taillon was asked about the atmosphere, and he said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve pitched in some big games. I struck out Tatis to start the game. That was the loudest I’ve ever heard a stadium in the big leagues.” The Cubs’ pitching was evidently very dominant during the Wild Card Series against the Padres.
The next big question on Cub Fans’ minds is, will starting right fielder, Kyle Tucker, return next season? This may seem like an obvious answer, but there is much more to it. A major reason for Chicago’s offensive success this year was Kyle Tucker, whom the Chicago Cubs acquired through a trade with the Houston Astros. Tucker had a very good season, earning his fourth consecutive All-Star selection, .266 batting average, .377 on-base percentage, .841 OPS, 25 stolen bases, 22 home runs, and 73 RBIs. After the World Series, Tucker becomes a free agent, and these numbers will help score a large new contract next season.
Chicago made it clear that the team wants to bring Tucker back on a long-term deal. In an article by Gavin Groe on Yahoo Sports, the President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, made this clear in his end-of-season press conference. Hoyer said, “Everyone can use a guy like Kyle Tucker.” Hoyer went on to say, “Everyone gets better by having a player like that. We will certainly be having those conversations.” The problem is, Chicago will not be the only team in the pursuit of Tucker this offseason. In Groe’s article, Jon Heyman of the New York Post said the LA Dodgers seem to be the team that wants to have him on their team next season. This is a major possibility because the Chicago Cubs do not like to spend lots of money on top-tier players. The team’s biggest contract right now is with current shortstop, Dansby Swanson, earning him $177 million over seven years.
In a perfect world, Chicago will unlock the vault, loosen the purse strings, and bring in some key pieces for the 2026 team. One name that makes sense for the Cubs is resigning former Cub, current Philadelphia Phillie’s designated hitter (DH), and free agent – Kyle Schwarber, back to the team where his professional journey began. Or maybe Chicago will decide to go the other direction and let their current roster of young, developed prospects fight for a couple of starting spots on their Major League roster.
