GM Meetings Take Unforeseen Turn for Chicago Cubs

The GM meetings in Las Vegas took an unexpected turn for the Chicago Cubs this week.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer had to leave Las Vegas early, departing on Tuesday to “attend to a personal matter,” according to a report from MLB insider Bruce Levine.

Hoyer's departure doesn't prevent the Cubs from making moves in his absence, but it could lead to the organization being a little bit slower to move than it otherwise would. The impact of that remains to be seen.

Typically, the GM meetings are an early offseason summit where front office executives from all 30 teams gather in one location to participate in league-related workshops, discuss rule changes, and handle general procedural business. There are also some early offseason media availabilities for teams to update their fans on the priorities and strategies that will be implemented over the winter.

Cubs GM Carter Hawkins, who remains in Vegas, will be able to handle all of that without a problem. An additional element of the GM meetings, though, is the face-to-face conversations that often lay the groundwork for trades and signings. Teams workshop potential deals, meet with agents, and get the ball rolling on potential offseason moves.

Given the dynamics this winter, with the collective bargaining agreement expiring on December 1 and an impending lockout, things could move faster than usual. There may be no Winter Meetings. By December 1, the majority of free agents may want to have deals in place.

We've already seen a free agent contract negotiated during the GM meetings, with relief pitcher Emilio Pagán signing a one-year, $11 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.

Dominoes will begin to fall. And while these processes can be conducted remotely nowadays, Hoyer not being able to participate in person in meetings and conversations in Las Vegas could potentially stall anything the Cubs would normally be working on. It's hard to say what the impact is for sure, but we do know things are different now than they were just a few days ago after this unforeseen twist.

Chicago has plenty of work to do this offseason. It's a big winter for Hoyer, who needs to rebuild a starting rotation, add multiple pieces to the bullpen, and continue to supplement an offense that was the best in baseball in 2026. The Cubs have their work cut out for them.

Hopefully, all is okay with Jed Hoyer as he deals with things bigger than baseball. For the time being, the Cubs will have to conduct business without him being present in person.