2025 Chicago Cubs: Playoff Hopes and Key Acquisitions

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00:00Quickly a focus on the north side of Chicago and the Cubs. Optimistic DRS entering 2025 to be a

00:07playoff team come October. Minus 172, minus 105 in the National League Central and a win total of 86

00:16and a half. Of course the biggest offseason acquisition for the Cubbies, a trade with

00:22the Astros to get the outstanding outfielder and power bat Kyle Tucker. But the last time the Cubs

00:28went over this win total of 86 and a half was way back in 2018. Of course that capped off that

00:34historic four-year run for the Cubs that included the 2016 World Series snapping the curse of the

00:42Billy Goat. How do you look at the Cubbies entering 2025? As trying to make money, which is similar to

00:48what they always try to do and tell you that they're poor and they can't afford a lot of

00:51players. They do have a decent lineup coming into it. The reason I say this though, it's very rare

00:55that there's an instance where Chicago is a monster market. Do you not see how they operate?

00:59It's a shame that their actual ownership does this. The Brewers, small market, Cardinals, small market,

01:05Reds, small market, Pirates, small market and then there's the Cubs. They should absolutely be the

01:09mets of that division and outspend everybody and win every single season. But their ownership group

01:13that brought in is going to say, you know what, we're just going to sit back and pile up the money

01:16and tell you that we're out of expenditures. But I am optimistic for the season because if you're

01:20looking at the estimated go-to starting lineup this year, Hap, Tucker, Suzuki, Bush, Swanson,

01:26Horner, Crowe, Armstrong, Shaw and Amaya, it's not that bad here. You take a look at the starting

01:30pitchers that you expect there. Imanaga is a very good pitcher. Steele's very good. Jameson,

01:34Tyone, veteran. Matthew Boyd trying to get that reclamation project left-handed pitcher to try

01:39to step up but not expected to be a top three guy. And then Javier Assad. It's not a bad lineup all

01:44the way through. So if you are looking, yes, the Brewers typically have that very good team,

01:48don't spend money. We don't know how they win. I have optimistic, you know, thoughts about the

01:53Cubs this year winning it because why? Who knows what the Cardinals are doing? Still looking to

01:57piecemeal and get really Nolan, Arenado at that point. Some of those aging veterans. The Reds,

02:01they're young and exciting but not really spending enough money on the top end of the rotation to

02:05get through. The Pirates are always the Pirates. So the Cubs probably should win this division.

02:09And if you look at the NL Central at minus 105, I think it's a pretty fair price.