8 Kitchen Chairs

CHICAGO -- As this year's MLB trade deadline approaches, the Chicago Cubs are concentrating on their future beyond this season, according to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

Hoyer, speaking before his team hosted the first place Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, indicated any moves he makes between now and the July 30 deadline will be with "2025 and beyond in mind."

"Where we are right now, I would have to say that moves only for 2024 -- unless things change over the next week -- we probably won't do a lot of moves that only help us for this year," Hoyer said. "If moves help us for 2025 and beyond I think we're exceptionally well positioned."

The Cubs begin the week in fourth place in the NL central, five games under .500 and 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot. They currently need to leapfrog five teams to secure a postseason berth and in Hoyer's estimation haven't played well enough to justify acquiring rentals for this year.

"We had two months of playing really poorly," he said. "That put us in a poor position."

The team has taken a step backward after a successful campaign in 2023, when it won 83 games and just missed out on the postseason. After the Cubs added two promising rookies in pitcher Shota Imanaga and first baseman Michael Busch -- plus high-priced manager Craig Counsell -- there were greater expectations for this season. But a lackluster offense doomed the team's first 100 games, leading to Hoyer's proclamation Monday.

The Cubs ranked sixth in runs scored last season but that has fallen to 24th this year.

"One difference between this year and last year is that our lineup has felt more shallow," Hoyer stated. "This is not the conversation I expected to be having. You have to react to it and make the best decisions possible."

Hoyer still believes the team is well positioned for the future and is hopeful the trade deadline helps that cause. Scouts have been evaluating Cubs relievers including Mark Leiter Jr, Hector Neris and Tyson Miller, according to league sources. Starter Jameson Taillon and third baseman Christopher Morel have also garnered interest.

The team doesn't have a lot of pending free agents, so deals could involve some players under long-term contracts or team control. Hoyer fell silent when asked about that possibility but expressed hope that 2024 could just be a one-year step back for the organization.

"From a young talent standpoint, from a controllable player standpoint, I feel really good," Hoyer said. "We simply dug a hole with underperformance for two months. That doesn't affect how I view the organization or how I view things going forward but it certainly effects 2024."

The Cubs entered the season with the No. 2 farm system, per rankings by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, but injuries both at the major and minor league levels have derailed some development. Young pitchers Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski and Cade Horton have all missed time. So has Cody Bellinger, who is recovering from a finger injury.

Hoyer acknowledged that it's difficult to compete while breaking in young players, but that's exactly what the Cubs have attempted to do since dismantling their World Series team at the trade deadline in 2021. The organization worked to avoid the 100-loss seasons that come with giving young players the majority of playing time.

"That's not going to be an option so no point in going through the hypothetical," Hoyer said of a full-on rebuild. "I feel really good about how we are positioned for the future and beyond. Our moves will reflect that at the deadline."

Hoyer is in his fourth year as president of baseball operations after taking over for Theo Epstein, who left after the 2020 season. Hoyer was asked if he has any concerns about his own job status, considering the team hasn't made the postseason during his tenure and this year's club has underachieved.

"The minute I become part of the conversation I'm not making good decisions anymore," he responded. "It's simply about trying to make good decisions for the organization. I feel great about where the organization is but we played badly for two months and now we have to make decisions as it relates to that."