Stinging from playoff exit, Cubs must make sure next year is different: ‘It’s time to look in the mirror’

The Chicago Cubs face an uncertain offseason following a swift two-game postseason exit that cut short their World Series aspirations. Third baseman Alex Bregman and manager Craig Counsell urged the team to look in the mirror and improve after falling well short of championship expectations. Despite featuring a productive lineup and MVP center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs suffered an abrupt early postseason elimination for the second consecutive year.

Jed Hoyer's front office enters the winter confronting massive roster turnover, with their entire starting rotation heading into free agency alongside key outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ. Potential internal rotation replacements including Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Justin Steele are all recovering from injuries, leaving significant questions about how the club will reconstruct its roster for 2027.