The 2020 season for the Cubs was one that most people were probably expecting. The Cubs ended up winning the division with a record of 34-26 only to be beaten by the Miami Marlins in the opening round of the playoffs.

Although winning the division was not something that most expected, they were still expected to make the playoffs with very few picking them to win Pennant and even fewer to win the world series.

After a semi-successful season, the Cubs went into the offseason with some big decisions to make.

Just days after the season ended, the Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations and mastermind, Theo Epstein, announced that he and the team were going to part ways. With the open position, the team announced that they were going to promote General Manager, Jed Hoyer.

Once Hoyer took over, he made some big moves by non-tendering outfielder Kyle Schwarber, much to the surprise of many fans. Although the Cubs still had a chance to re-sign the slugger, they did not even make an offer and he signed with the Washington Nationals on a one year, ten million dollar deal.

Not only that, Hoyer made a blockbuster trade sending Cy Young runner-up, Yu Darvish, and his personal catcher, Victor Caratini to the San Diego Padres for Zach Davies and three prospects.

The transactions don’t stop there as the Cubs failed to sign veteran starting pitcher, Jon Lester. Despite Lester’s interest to retire as Cub, Hoyer failed to resign the three-time world series champion. Lester joins Schwarber and the Nationals on a one year, five million dollar deal.

More recently, Hoyer signed catcher Austin Romine to a one year-$1.5 million dollar deal. This addresses the Cubs’ lack of a second catcher behind Contreras.

Rumors have also been circulating about a blockbuster trade between the Cubs and the Blue Jays. The deal would involve 3rd basemen Kris Bryant and starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

While keeping most of the core of the team together (Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Willson Contreras), the Cubs’ offseason has been anything but successful. Many of the key members of the 2016 World Series team were still around and the talent is still there to compete for a World Series.

Hoyer has made some very questionable moves already during his short time as President of Baseball Operations. 

He traded one of the best pitchers in the league and his personal catcher for almost nothing. The Padres have some of the best young prospects in the league and Hoyer was unable to get anyone within their top 12.

As prospects, they could develop as time goes on but as a life-long Cubs fan, I would have much rather get talent instead of potential. The Cubs have a lot of talent on their current roster right now and a couple of moves to potentially get a superstar could be the thing that makes this team a world series contender.

Regardless of the moves, this team has made so far, there is still a lot of talent on this roster. It would have been nice to keep some of the veterans on the team to help make another deep postseason run.

Time will only tell how this Cubs team does and if they are able to possibly continue this dynasty, Hoyer will look like a genius but the second things go bad, we should expect to see a lot of the blame go to him.