After the headlining acquisition of third baseman Alex Bregman, the Chicago Cubs appear to have built a complete, balanced roster ready to compete from Day 1.
After landing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year, $175 million contract, everyone wants to know what’s next for the Chicago Cubs.
Does the infield logjam create room to trade Nico Hoerner and address other needs? Is there another middle-of-the-order bat coming? Are the Cubs still lurking on the fringes of the Bo Bichette or Kyle Tucker markets?
There’s no shortage of speculation, and plenty of Cubs fans feel the front office still has work to do. Adding Bregman was a major move — but was it enough?
I won't pretend to know what happens next behind closed doors. But when I look at this roster, I come away with a pretty clear conclusion: the Cubs are done adding this offseason.
They’ve executed their plan, filled their needs, and built a team that looks ready to go on Opening Day.
Position player in place
The starting lineup is set. Bregman joins Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Busch as starting infielders. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki have the outfield locked down. And Moises Ballasteros is set to be the regular DH.
Miguel Amaya will be on the roster and should handle a meaningful share of the catching duties. Matt Shaw gives Craig Counsell a versatile infield option off the bench, capable of filling multiple roles and providing insurance across the diamond.
Tyler Austin returning from Japan on an MLB deal is a quietly smart move. I liked it at the time, and I like it even more now. He gives the Cubs a right-handed power bat who can either anchor the bench or platoon with Busch at first base.
The final bench spot will go to an outfielder. Kevin Alcántara makes the most sense as the only other outfielder currently on the 40-man roster, but that could just as easily be a veteran signed to a minor-league deal who earns a spot in spring training. Either way, it won't be a major addition.
A full rotation and a finished bullpen
The pitching staff is just as settled.
When healthy, the Cubs can roll out Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon. That’s six legitimate big-league starters, giving Counsell flexibility and protection against injuries or workload limits.
Even without Steele ready to go for Opening Day, the Cubs should have a clean starting five.
Colin Rea and Javier Assad slide into long-relief roles, strengthening the bridge between the rotation and the late innings. From there, the bullpen fills out with Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Phil Maton, and Daniel Palencia anchoring the back end.
That’s not a bullpen with open seats. That’s a bullpen that’s been built deliberately through free agency this winter.
Why the Cubs are likely finished
Simply, this is a full roster. A full pitching staff. A complete lineup.
So while I understand the temptation to keep looking for the next move — especially with spring training still weeks away — the reality is that the Cubs don’t have any holes left to fill.
They’ve addressed nearly every need. They’ve balanced their roster. And they’ve built a team that can legitimately compete for an NL Central title or pennant.
If something unexpected pops up during the season, the trade deadline is always there. But as things stand, this is the team they set out to build.
And honestly, who could ask for much more than that?