The Chicago Cubs entered the trade deadline aiming to strengthen their team for the 2025 season. After making several moves, the Cubs’ front office has reasons to feel optimistic about their achievements.
While more could have been done, and some might argue that they should have traded a few more pieces, the organization is now in a better position than it was just 48 hours ago.
Regardless of their deadline moves, the real test will be the actions they take in the offseason. If they adopt a similar approach to last winter, there’s a chance Chicago could find themselves in a similar situation next year.
Throughout this campaign, they’ve shown glimpses of playing above-average baseball. However, inconsistent performances have led to struggles, resulting in a disappointing 52-58 record and a 6.5-game gap from the final National League Wild Card spot. Despite this, it’s premature to count them out of the playoff race just yet.
A significant win on Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, with a score of 13-4, could mark the beginning of a turnaround for the Cubs. Not only was it an impressive victory, but it also marked a historic achievement. According to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune, the Cubs hit nine doubles in the game, one shy of their franchise record, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since August 30, 2010.
Even if they don’t make the postseason, Wednesday night’s performance offers reasons for the fanbase to be excited for next season. The focus now should be on improvements, as the Cubs’ front office evaluates which players to retain.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if the team starts playing better now that the trade deadline pressures have lifted. If so, a stronger finish could be on the horizon.
