They may have money coming off the books but the offense unit is going to be largely the same. So those guys need to figure it out. Bregman Swanson Nico Busch Pete aren’t going anywhere.
If it’s not the pitching, it’s the offense. Bullpen is fine but not elite. Injuries excuse only gets you so far. This Cubs team is about as expensive and relatable as the 2024 Cubs that had underperformance and dead money on the books. Lots of money off the books after this season, so certainly could be worse but I never thought it’d be worse than 2024 during the Jed Hoyer era. If they miss the postseason it will be worse.