CubsPS+ #106: Cubs Baseball is Back...Again!

Bleacher Bunch Network: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

Episode Summary:

I’m back after a few hectic weeks, and with Opening Day (for most of MLB) here, it felt like the perfect time to drop a season preview episode! This one’s a little shorter, but I wanted to break down the Cubs’ final 26-man roster, talk through what went right and wrong this offseason, and give you my predictions for 2025.

I also dive into how I’m approaching this season personally—falling back in love with baseball after a stressful winter, enjoying the game wherever I can find it, and just appreciating the ride. Cubs, college ball, high school, youth leagues—I’m all in.

Let’s talk expectations, roster surprises, and whether this team has what it takes to win the division and make a deep postseason run.

⚾️ What I Cover in This Episode:

🔹 Final 26-Man Roster Breakdown

• Ben Brown named 5th starter
• Matthew Boyd & Brad Keller win rotation and bullpen spots
• Ryan Brasier and Tyson Miller to the IL, Vidal Brujan and Keegan Thompson off the roster
• Gage Workman makes the team via Rule 5, beats out Brujan

🔹 Rotation Outlook

• Steele, Shōta, Taillon, Boyd, Brown
• Upside in Boyd & Brown, but can they stay healthy?
• Depth from Wicks, Assad, and Horton could prove crucial
• Why I expect Shōta to regress slightly but still be effective

🔹 Bullpen Depth Is a Strength

• Presley, Merriweather, Hodge, Morgan, Pearson, Teelbar, Keller, Ray
• Merriweather looks sharp again
• Cubs have tons of “big guy, throws hard” arms in Iowa ready to rotate in

🔹 Lineup & Bench: Better Than 2024?

• Tucker > Bellinger (a clear upgrade)
• Swanson & Nico healthy again = huge boost
• Shaw at 3B will have growing pains, but the tools are there
• Bench of Turner, Birdi, Workman, and Kelly gives Craig Counsell flexibility
• Cubs have more options than they’ve had in years

🔹 The Cody Poteet DFA: A Curious Move

• Cubs basically dumped Bellinger’s contract for Poteet… and now he’s gone
• Shows the value they see in Brad Keller

📈 Season Preview & Predictions

• Cubs win 91 games and take the NL Central crown
• Brewers (86 wins) and Reds (85) keep it close
• Cubs’ depth & financial flexibility will let them improve at the deadline
• If they need an arm? Think Sandy Alcántara-type trade
• April is a gauntlet, but May gets easier

🧢 Personal Goals for 2025

• Watch the Cubs as much as I can—but also
• Appreciate baseball at every level: MLB, college, high school, youth
• This is my reset year. I’m in it for the love of the game

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