There’s no doubt the Cubs front office gets a ton of hate from fans for their lack of free agent spending. They ranked third in 2024 revenue, but their payroll for the 2025 season was 14th among all Major League teams. 

Given how much money the team brings in each season, Chicago should be among the top in payroll spending every year. In 2024, the Cubs brought in $584 million in revenue. Their payroll sat at just $213 million. 

However, we can’t discredit what Jed Hoyer and company have done in past offseasons to set up this franchise. Hoyer has been aggressive in both free agency and in the trade market to help improve this team each year. 

2022: Cubs sign Japanese slugger Seiya Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million deal. At the time, that $85 million deal was the highest salary for a Japanese position player coming to the Majors. 

2023: Cubs sign Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million deal. That $177 million deal is the second-largest contract the team has given out in its history, only behind Jason Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million deal in 2016. 

2024: Cubs sign Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million contract and trade two prospects for infielder Michael Busch. The Cubs also gave Craig Counsell a five-year deal to be their next manager. 

2025: Cubs trade for Kyle Tucker in exchange for Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski, and Isaac Parades. 

The Cubs have made some pretty big moves in the offseason in recent years. Suzuki was a big part of Chicago’s 2025 team with a career-high 32 home runs and 103 RBI. He also came up big in the postseason by launching three homers in the first two rounds. 

Swanson continues to play Gold Glove defense at shortstop, and he just posted his best numbers offensively in a Cubs uniform in 2025. The two-time All-Star hit .244 with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. 

Imanaga has posted solid numbers in his first two MLB seasons, and Busch just had a breakout campaign in 2025. His 34 home runs in the regular season led the team, and he added four more long balls in the postseason. 

Then, there’s Tucker, whom Chicago acquired last offseason in a massive deal. While a lot of fans will say this trade was a loss for Hoyer, you can’t blame the front office for trying to go all in. The Cubs acquired a top-10 outfielder to give them a shot at a World Series title. 

Given what Hoyer and the front office have done in recent offseasons, it’s clear the Cubs will make some sort of splash in the winter months. That could be trading for a pitcher like Joe Ryan, or even signing a slugger like Kyle Schwarber in free agency. 

We shouldn’t put it past Hoyer to make a big move this offseason.