Cubs President Jed Hoyer Makes Disappointing Admission Ahead of Free Agency

Cubs president Jed Hoyer expects the roster to look different next year.

by Pardon Joshua

Oct 3, 2026

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Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer acknowledged that the team will look different next season after its playoff run ended with a two-game sweep by the San Diego Padres.

Hoyer addressed the roster’s future Friday following Chicago’s disappointing Wild Card exit. Several key players are headed toward free agency, leaving the Cubs with difficult decisions to make this offseason.

“We’re not going to be able to bring back all of them. … The team is going to look and feel different next year. I think in a lot of ways, that’s a good thing,” Hoyer said, according to Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network.

The Cubs finished 89-73 and second in the National League Central, reaching the postseason behind an offense that scored 850 runs, the most in MLB. Baseball-Reference also credits Chicago with 703 runs allowed during the regular season.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was the biggest reason for that offensive success. The center fielder hit .280 with 45 home runs, 107 RBIs, 41 stolen bases and a .943 OPS while producing 9.8 WAR, according to StatMuse and Baseball-Reference.

Crow-Armstrong is not among the players facing free agency, having signed an extension that keeps him under contract through 2032. Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ, however, are entering free agency after productive stretches with Chicago. Suzuki hit .270 with 26 home runs, 86 RBIs and an .842 OPS, while Happ finished with a .218 average, 24 home runs, 68 RBIs and a .738 OPS.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11)

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Hoyer’s comments also come as the Cubs prepare to address their pitching staff. Shota Imanaga finished 2026 with an 11-10 record, a 3.77 ERA and 174 strikeouts across 32 starts, but his contract status and the team’s broader pitching needs will factor into Chicago’s offseason planning.

The Cubs now enter the offseason earlier than expected after losing the Wild Card Series to San Diego. With several important decisions ahead, Hoyer has already made one thing clear: Chicago’s 2027 roster will not look exactly like the team that won 89 games this season.