Cubs Baseball is so Unbelievably Back

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga walks to the dugout after being taken out during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the N.L. Division Series on Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

That’s right: after a long offseason and many months of no baseball, the Cubs are back. Spring training is underway as the team begins the year with high hopes and deep playoff runs.

Let’s jump into the many moves the Cubs made this offseason.

The Cubs’ biggest concern this offseason was to improve pitching, in both the rotation and the bullpen, and they did just that in both aspects.

The first move the Cubs made in the offseason was bringing back fan favorite Shota Imanaga  on a one-year, $22 million deal. Going into 2024, the Cubs had high expectations for Imanaga, coming off an all-star year in his first year with the club, and a 15-3 record with a 2.90 ERA. 

But he took a step back in 2025, finishing the year with a 3.73 ERA and a 9-8 record. Teams figured out his pitching style, which led to more runs allowed and more hits overall. The worst came into the playoffs when Imanaga had an 8.10 ERA in just six innings of work. 

The Cubs need pitching depth, and Imanaga is always healthy and will give at least 140 innings per year. He will be a free agent after this year, so this is a make-or-break deal for him, as he needs to have a bounce-back year. I personally like this signing, as Imanaga brings a positive clubhouse presence and can easily bounce back. 

This next move is the biggest move on the pitching side for the Cubs. In a blockbuster trade, the Cubs acquired Edward Cabrera, a 27-year-old right hander from the Miami Marlins. The Marlins received the Cubs’ number one prospect, Owen Caissie, in return.

The Canadian-born outfielder made his Major League debut last year and showed signs that he is ready for the big leagues. It was a hefty price for Cabrera and Caissie, but the Cubs needed to make this move. 

Cabrera is a proven pitcher in this league who has outstanding stuff, including a 95-mph changeup that had a 34% whiff rate when thrown. He is under contract until the 2029 season and is in the prime of his career. He will be a cornerstone in this rotation for years to come and will help this team win. 

Personally, my favorite move this offseason, and the best move the Cubs made, was signing three-time All-Star and World Series Champion third baseman, Alex Bregman. Bregman signed a five-year $175 million contract this offseason and is coming off an amazing season with the Red Sox, hitting 273 with 821 OPS. 

Finishing top three in MVP votes in 2019, Bregman is a proven star who is a needle mover to make a team like the Cubs a World Series contender. 

A lot of talk in the offseason was about what the Cubs were going to do at third base. Matt Shaw, having an up-and-down year and still a lot to prove, was one of the main reasons for this major signing. He looks like he will be moved to the outfield and play in a new position that he has not played so far in his time in the MLB, but so far, it looks like he is enjoying his time out there. 

“It feels like I’m kind of a kid again,” Shaw said, “running around, catching balls, diving and stuff. It’s a lot of fun” (Jordan Bastian, MLB.com).

The Cubs are in win-now mode, and signing Bregman will put this team into deep postseason talks and bring that veteran leadership to the team, which was missing last year. 

To round out the free agent signings, the Cubs picked up four free agent relievers to solidify the bullpen for the 2026 season. All four relievers will be on one-year deals. 

The players signed were Jacob Webb, Corbin Martin, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner; all these relievers are coming off a solid 2025 season and give 50 to 70 innings each year. The Cubs needed to improve in the bullpen, and this choice of arms is a great push towards that goal.

The Cubs made many moves during this offseason and look like a team that wants to win it all. As a fan, I give this offseason grade an A. They made all the moves they had to make and improved in all the right spots. 

All we can do is sit and watch this team play and hopefully bring home that World Series trophy, so get excited, Cubs fans. This is going to be a fun year.