What lineup changes could the Cubs make for the 2026 season?

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00:00What changes do you think the Cubs consider with their lineup, with their offense?

00:08That's a good question, Grotes.

00:13Let's say the easy one would be the removal of Kyle Tucker,

00:17not because I don't think he's a good player.

00:19I just don't see him coming back to the Chicago Cubs.

00:22So that's one.

00:24You have to find a way to fill that spot,

00:27whether you do that internally or externally remains to be seen.

00:30But let's just say you go with one of your kids,

00:32whether it's Owen Casey or Kevin Alcantara,

00:36that's a lot of production you lose.

00:38I know people weren't happy with Kyle Tucker at the end,

00:40but when things were going right, he was a big part of it.

00:43And so you have to figure out a way to get that production.

00:46I also think you have to be realistic about your expectations

00:50for Pete Crow Armstrong going into the next season,

00:53because you can't assume that you're going to get the first half.

00:56Pete Crow Armstrong, and that has to go into your calculations as well.

01:00So I don't know, Mark, honestly, to be honest with you,

01:04because I don't know of the pieces that they have currently under contract,

01:09unless you're talking about getting creative and moving a guy.

01:13I don't know who that would be,

01:14but that seems like the only way that you can really change what you do

01:18outside of allowing one of your young prospects

01:21to finally get regular playing time.

01:23Or like Shaw.

01:25I mean, I understand he's a rookie, like the up and down.

01:28We talked a little bit about Hap.

01:30And Layla, I think you brought it up, same thing that Rustus brought up.

01:34Like, I think PCA is a really good major league player,

01:37but you got to be on the lookout.

01:39He has to adjust.

01:40The league has made an adjustment to him in order for the Cubs to even have a prayer

01:45of avoiding having to sign a major slugger like Kyle Tucker.

01:49And this is a prayer.

01:50I'm not even saying, like, this should not be the plan.

01:54But PCA has to adjust to how the league has adjusted to him.

01:57Like, that needs to be one of the biggest offseason objectives for the team

02:01outside of acquiring talent.

02:03Yeah, I think I look at Pete Crow Armstrong.

02:08I think...