Hoyer Should Not Give Up on Cubs Season Yet

Before Monday night's game against the Brewers, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer sat with reporters to talk about his plans for the Trade Deadline. He was fairly transparent during the conversation.

According to MLB.com, Hoyer said, "This is not the conversation I expected to be having."

Hoyer is referring to the Cubs' current standing in the NL Central which is last place due to a terrible May and June offensive slump. However, they are just 3.5 games out of the NL Wild Card race with much baseball left to play. Last year, the Cubs weren't in that different of a situation, they executed in July and August, and they missed the playoffs by just one game.

Let's be clear, the current state of play is not Hoyer's fault. At the beginning of the season, the offensive lineup looked downright treacherous for opposing teams. While the starting rotation has probably exceeded expectations, the hitting has been inconsistent or poor, and definitely not clutch. Almost every player (except maybe 1B Michael Busch) in the Cubs lineup is under their career numbers. The meltdown and subsequent injury of their closer, Adbert Alzolay, as well as having nine pitches on IL at one time hasn't helped either.

Hoyer put together a winning roster and the players have not performed.

Hoyer continued, "But you have to react to it and make the best decision possible."

Reaction implies action. Last season Hoyer added 3B Jeimer Candelario and relief pitcher Jose Cuas. Both those players were critical for the end of the year surge. Candelario's bat filled a hole that was killing the Cubs at third base. Cuas gobbled up innings without giving up runs which led to many wins down the stretch.

The assumption is that Hoyer is looking to do something similar this year. Obviously, it would be great to be in a stronger position, but that is not the hand the Cubs have been dealt so far this season.

Asked directly what the Trade Deadline strategy is, Hoyer seemed to be very clear in his approach, “We probably won’t do a lot of moves that only help us for this year. If moves help us in ‘25 and beyond -- I think we’re still exceptionally well-positioned -- I think that’s where our focus will be. But just helping in ‘24, I think that probably won’t be our focus unless things change dramatically.”

What?

Are we saying that if the Cubs don't move up in the standings in the next eight games before the Trade Deadline he is giving up on the season? He will make no short-term adds, only trades or acquisition that will provide long term returns? He won't acquire any "rental" players to add a spark for the rest of the season?

That doesn't seem to make sense to Cubs fans, and it doesn't seem to make baseball sense. As long as the Cubs are just a few games out of the playoff hunt, the only acceptable strategy is to give the team every advantage possible. Hoyer doesn't want to deplete his very strong farm system for 2024 rentals and that is understandable.

Doing absolutely nothing would not be understandable. Anyone watching the Cubs knows that they need a reliable hitter (preferably with some decent slugging), they need a closer, they need some offensive pop at the catching position. Those players are out there and are rumored to be available. Small additions could pay huge dividends. Instead of just assuming that the 8 and 9 hitters are outs, maybe we can get some runs across the plate. Maybe we could get runners in scoring position before 2 outs.

According to Tankathon, the Cubs have the 10th easiest schedule to finish the year. Seven of the nine easier schedules are American League teams. Of the other two, San Francisco is farther down the list than the Cubs are currently. San Diego is .5 games out of the Wild Card place. The Cubs are in it but is Hoyer in it to win it.

LF Ian Happ is far from giving up, "That’s our job in the clubhouse right now is to make it tough on Jed. It’s going out and playing good baseball and putting ourselves in a position where we can get back in this thing. The nice part about the Wild Card situation is it’s all bunched up right now. We’ve got plenty of baseball left.”

Hell yes.

The games leading up to the Trade Deadline are not simple. Three games against the Brewers at Wrigley, three games in Kansas City, three games against division rival Reds. No pushovers here. Let's say the Cubs go 4-4 for the next week and a half. That may not be considered fantastic, but it will keep them in the hunt and show that they aren't losing to good teams. If we don't go 6-2 or 7-1, is the season over?

The Cubs are worth the investment, and I don't think the fan base is giving up on the season. However, Cubs fans are convinced that the current lineup will probably not magically just rebound from their issues.

Doing nothing would be a sign of quitting and wasting a phenomenal effort by the pitching staff, especially the starters.

“You’re always going to listen,” Hoyer said. “I think you do have to be opportunistic and try to be creative and think about things like that.”

Well, that conversation seemed to come full circle. We are going to react, but not do anything for short term gain, but we are willing to be opportunistic.

OK.

Hoyer believes in the current team and so does the fan base. On paper, they should be a powerhouse. But so was the World Series winning 2016 Cubs that never really threatened again with that great lineup of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez and others.

This season is salvageable. There are too many good things going on. But the team needs a little help. Manager Craig Counsell is juggling lineups, the starting rotation, and the bullpen placement. The guy needs a couple of reinforcements to ease the decision making.

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