The Chicago Cubs are pleased with their winter trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, acquiring infielder Michael Busch and pitcher Yency Almonte. Almonte showcased solid performance with a 3.45 ERA over 15.2 innings, while Busch excelled at first base, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 65 runs in 152 games.

This trade appears beneficial for both teams, as Dodgers' prospect Zyhir Hope is showing promise in the minor leagues, further solidifying the trade's success for the Cubs.

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.

The Chicago Cubs faced a disappointing 2024 MLB season, failing to meet expectations despite strategic moves. However, the emergence of young talents like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch provided some optimism for the future.

Heading into the offseason, the Cubs have a strong core and depth, which President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer emphasized as a crucial asset. With several prospects on the MLB Pipeline Top 100, the team has the potential to make impactful trades or upgrades.

The Chicago Cubs made a pivotal decision last offseason by re-signing Cody Bellinger, who had struggled since winning the MVP award in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His performance in 2023 was impressive, boasting a .307 batting average with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs, leading to a three-year, $80 million contract.

However, opinions on the deal vary, with some analysts rating it poorly compared to other free agency contracts. As the Cubs face uncertainty, insiders suggest they might prefer Bellinger to opt out of his contract, allowing them to reallocate funds and address other roster needs.

The Chicago Cubs are facing a challenging reality as they have missed the playoffs for four consecutive years, even with a high-profile manager in Craig Counsell. Despite a decent record of 83-79 in 2024, the team is far from postseason contention.

On a positive note, the Cubs boast one of the richest prospect pools in baseball, with nine players ranked in the top 100. However, with limited roster spots, the team may need to consider trading top prospects like James Triantos if a superstar becomes available to help them win now.