The Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged victorious in the pursuit of Roki Sasaki, the highly touted 23-year-old Japanese right-hander, who made his decision public through Instagram. The world champion Dodgers, expected to be the frontrunners, successfully claimed Sasaki during the international signing period, which started recently. Despite interest from the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, Sasaki chose the Dodgers, leaving teams like the Chicago Cubs disappointed.

Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, expressed his letdown, stating they invested significant effort in the recruitment process, likening the situation to the prior experience with Shohei Ohtani. Hoyer maintained that although they did not secure Sasaki, the Cubs still have a strong track record with Japanese players, hinting at future recruitment possibilities.

The Chicago Cubs are feeling the pressure to enhance their roster after failing to reach the playoffs for four straight seasons. With a focus on improving their pitching staff, the team recently acquired reliever Eli Morgan from the Cleveland Guardians.

Despite fans' hopes for a top-tier starting pitcher, reports suggest the Cubs are unlikely to pursue high-profile free agents. Instead, they may target mid-tier options, balancing their budget while addressing their pitching needs.

The Chicago Cubs finished the 2024 season with an 83-79 record, placing second in the NL Central. Despite a solid run differential suggesting a better performance, they missed the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.

Key contributors included Shota Imanaga, who excelled as a rookie pitcher, and Seiya Suzuki, who had a standout offensive season. However, the bullpen's struggles and underperformance from certain positions hindered their success.

Looking ahead, the Cubs have several key free agents and will need to address their catching and bullpen needs to improve in 2025.

In the world of Major League Baseball, offseason trade proposals often stir controversy among fans. This article explores unpopular trade ideas for each MLB team, suggesting moves that could benefit franchises despite potential backlash.

Key proposals include the Oakland Athletics considering a trade for Brent Rooker, while the Arizona Diamondbacks might move top prospect Jordan Lawlar. The Atlanta Braves are advised to trade Marcell Ozuna to alleviate a designated hitter logjam. Each suggestion aims to balance logic with the reality of fan sentiment.

The Chicago Cubs are prioritizing their underwhelming lineup this offseason, but enhancing their pitching staff remains crucial. With two strong left-handed pitchers already in place, acquiring a reliable right-hander could greatly benefit their rotation.

Veteran pitcher Justin Verlander, despite his impressive career, struggled in 2024 and may not be the right fit for the Cubs. Analysts suggest the team should avoid taking a chance on him, especially given his declining performance. Instead, focusing on quality arms is the way forward for the Cubs as they prepare for the upcoming season.