Three burning Cubs questions as spring training opens

Every team comes into spring training with playoff dreams. It was certainly the case last February for the Chicago Cubs when they arrived in Mesa, Arizona, early due to opening the season in Japan.

But for an organization that hadn’t made the postseason after a 162-game schedule since 2018 and hadn’t won a postseason game since 2017, there were plenty of doubters. There was talent on the field, but just how good they could be was a legitimate question.

This year, the feeling is different. Once again, spring starts early, this time due to the World Baseball Classic. Last fall was proof of concept for doubting onlookers. This team can get into the playoffs and even make a little noise. After an offseason that has only built upon that excitement, the expectations are growing. Yes, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the year as heavy favorites. But the Cubs believe, as do many observers, that they can truly compete for a World Series crown this year.

Here are three burning questions as spring training begins for a team with high expectations.

Will the Cubs get an extension done this spring?

The Cubs have three key position players who will be free agents after this season: Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner. An argument can be made for extending any of the trio, but all eyes will be on Hoerner this spring.

Hoerner has emerged as the heart and soul of the team. His value off the field is hard to measure. When the team was without him in Japan last year, veteran pitcher Jameson Taillon said it felt like something was missing and that Hoerner’s absence was felt by all.

But then there’s the value he brings on the field. Hoerner is an elite defender and top-tier baserunner. He hits for average, a rarity in today’s game, and rarely strikes out. His lack of power is one of the few ways one could ding him, but he brings so much value elsewhere that it’s easy to overlook.

The uncertainty around the CBA could muck up how the Cubs view things here, but the reality is Hoerner is a perfect fit for a team that seems to have the potential to contend for a few years moving forward. The next couple of free-agent classes don’t look outwardly strong at the moment, and Hoerner could be at the top of the class next winter. The Cubs should try to keep him off the market if they can.

There are youngsters who will get a look as well, Pete Crow-Armstrong prime among them. The Cubs front office and Crow-Armstrong’s agency engaged in talks last spring. At this time a year ago, one comp was Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, a glove-first player who signed a seven-year, $63.5 million deal in March of 2024 that has a chance to be worth $84 million.

That may be the low end now for Crow-Armstrong after he proved that his offensive ceiling is incredibly high and could be reached. Corbin Carroll’s eight-year, $111 million deal with a team option for a ninth that would bring the guaranteed total to $134 million was signed after just 32 games in the big leagues. That would likely be the comp Crow-Armstrong’s camp will point to and aim for.

How healthy is the team’s pitching?

Edward Cabrera was the big offseason addition to the rotation. The front office and coaching staff are enamored with the hard-throwing righty and believe he’s just scratching the surface of his vast potential. But health will be the key. Over the last three years, Cabrera has missed time with both elbow and shoulder issues, the most recent occurring last September when it was revealed he had a UCL sprain. Keeping him healthy will be incredibly important for this rotation to take a leap forward in 2026.

After making just four starts last season, Justin Steele is recovering from major elbow surgery. He won’t be part of the rotation to start the season, but he’s throwing and progressing nicely in his rehab. The Cubs can be patient because they’ve built some depth with this unit, so the hope has to be that he avoids any setbacks and can join the rotation at some point in May or June and be ready to contribute to a potential deep playoff run.

While he is healthy and had a normal offseason, Shota Imanaga ended the season so poorly that many wondered if he hadn’t fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered in May. There are likely things during the rehab process that both the player and team would choose to do differently, but both sides believe that better things are to come.

The Cubs also have two starters playing in the WBC in Taillon and Matthew Boyd. Despite a healthy 2025, Boyd has a long injury history. There are natural concerns when pitchers choose to play in the WBC, but both are veteran pitchers who know how to prepare for a season. The hope for the Cubs is that nothing goes awry for either during their time away from the team and that getting the competitive juices flowing earlier than normal doesn’t bite either pitcher later in the summer.

On the reliever side, the biggest name to monitor is Hunter Harvey. The hard-throwing righty has suffered a number of maladies over his career, most recently last summer when he was limited to just 10⅔ innings with Kansas City with a right teres major strain and later, an adductor injury. But when healthy, Harvey throws in the upper-90s with a nasty splitter and can be a high-end bullpen arm. Paired with Daniel Palencia (who is also pitching in the WBC), a healthy and effective Harvey could be the type of “stuff” the Cubs crave at the back of their bullpen.

Will there be a spring training surprise?

With the Boston Red Sox acquiring Caleb Durbin and two other infielders in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, the likelihood of a Matt Shaw trade went down significantly. It still can’t be ruled out that someone will bowl the Cubs over for Shaw, but being on high alert for a move isn’t necessary at the moment.

The Cubs aren’t the favorites to land Zac Gallen, and his presence would crowd the rotation. But there’s a reason “you can never have too much pitching” is a baseball truism. The longer Gallen lingers on the market, the more intriguing the possibility gets. But so far, the Cubs haven’t jumped at this possibility. Gallen may be best served by finding an opt-out after one year and hitting the market again with more value next winter. That may not make sense for the Cubs, who would lose a draft pick for signing Gallen because he is attached to a qualifying offer.

The Cubs will continue to look for more depth, especially in the outfield. Whether an addition to the 40-man roster comes is yet to be seen, but the Cubs are looking for any veteran help who could fill out their bench and excel in a part-time role.

Beyond that, the surprises could also come in the form of a non-roster invite. Is a Brad Keller-like home run possible? Sure, but it’s unlikely to find that type of impact year after year with NRIs. Still, it’s worth monitoring Corbin Martin and Trent Thornton, the latter of whom is recovering from an Achilles tear. On the position player side, Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick will battle it out for an extra outfielder spot. Both have shown in the past that they can be high-level contributors to winning teams.

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