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Jesse Rogers
MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer, who has yet to make a playoff appearance as he enters the final season of his five-year contract, knows that 2025 looms large for the team and his own career.
After nearly a decade-and-a half in Chicago’s front office, after working under former team executive Theo Epstein previously, and with a new-look roster, Hoyer knows what the expectations are.
“Does it feel different than it has in the past,” Hoyer asked on Sunday, Day 1 of spring training for the Cubs. “A little bit. I’ve been here for 14 years and sort of generally in my career, I haven’t had much uncertainty. And so I think with uncertainty does come a level of anxiety. I think that would be a lie to say that it doesn’t.”
To be fair, Hoyer was tasked with rebuilding the team after its championship core from last decade got stale. It’s been a slow progression as the organization hasn’t signed any of the top of the line free agents over the past few winters.
Instead, they’ve built through the draft while signing selected free agents like Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki. This past winter, they showed more aggression in the trade market, dealing three players for former Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker who may only be with the team for one season. It displayed an urgency around the organization for the first time in several years.
“Wins are going to be in a premium in the National League, in particular this year,” Hoyer said. “And so I think we’re in a competitive window. I think we’ve gotten better each year. I think we’re at a place where we have a chance to be really good and trying to really maximize our resources within our budget to make sure that we could do that.”
Could that budget include free agent third baseman Alex Bregman? He could very well push the team over the 90 win total after back-to-back 83 win seasons — and the team has an opening at that position. Hoyer was noncommittal about adding before they open the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan next month. But the team has recent history of a late, spring signing when it brought back Cody Bellinger in February last year.
“I think offseasons have drifted later, whether it’s waiver claims, trades, free agent signings,” Hoyer said. “Things happen a little bit later now, but I think given that it’s February ninth, I think we’re focused on the guys that are here.”
Those guys in camp are likely to determine if Hoyer gets a contract extension. A playoff appearance this October would assuredly get him one — if he isn’t signed before then. But an underachieving season could also seal his fate. Hoyer didn’t shy away from that conversation about his future.
“Has it caused some introspection along the way,” Hoyer asked. “I think that’s fair to say, but … we have a great front office, we have incredible manager and a great coaching staff. I think we put together a really good team.
“I think every arrow is sort of pointing up on this organization right now. So I just think there’s a lot more opportunity for me and for (GM) Carter (Hawkins) than there is risk and I’m super proud of what we built with a lot of really good people. So that’s kind of how I look at it.”