6 Cubs Who Won't Be Back in 2025 After Missing Playoffs Again
By Zoe Grossman
For a second straight season, a Cubs team that looked to be on the fringes of a miraculous playoff run shot itself in the foot with another skid in September.
It's an all-too-familiar story for the Cubs, whose unceremonious exit from playoff contention on Sept. 21 capped off a fourth year in a row without a postseason appearance.
Things were supposed to be different in 2024. In a shocking move, the Cubs poached former Brewers manager Craig Counsell last offseason to take over for David Ross.
But not even Counsell could save the Cubs from being outdone once again by their northern neighbors. The Brewers found a way to completely dominate the NL Central en route to clinching the division title with a 9.5-game cushion over the second-place Cubs, all while working with a payroll over $115 million less than what the Cubs spent this season.
For an organization in such a major market with all the means in the world to improve, nothing about making the playoffs should be miraculous. It's an expectation, albeit one that was dampened by a streaky offense and a pitching staff that could often implode at the worst moments.
Roster improvements are critical for the Cubs in 2025, meaning some goodbyes will be said in turn. Here are the players who likely played their last game in Cubbie Blue.
1. Kyle Hendricks
Parting ways with the sole remaining member of the 2016 World Series-winning team would certainly sting, but it's a move that is probably for the best.
Hendricks is entering free agency for the first time in his MLB career, and he's coming off a campaign that saw him post a 4-12 record, a 5.92 ERA and a -1.5 WAR -- all of which are single-season worsts for the 34-year-old.
The Professor did manage to go out with a vintage performance in his potential final start as a Cub on Sept. 28, throwing seven scoreless innings and giving up just two hits to the Reds.
However, bringing Hendricks back would not make much sense for a team trying to bolster its rotation, especially with recent rumors linking Braves lefty Max Fried to the Cubs as he also hits free agency this offseason.