What the Cubs Need to Do to Win the World Series in 2026 |
Tony Crumpton
· · 7 hours ago
Any major league sports coach will tell you that the main priority each year is to improve on the previous season. Hopefully, there will be talk of championships and playoffs, but showing that you have gotten better is the first step. From there, hope can thrive and fans can get over-excited about the team’s prospects.
In that respect, the Cubs delivered this season. Although there was a lot of World Series talk after the Cubs claimed one of three postseason slots earned by NL Central teams, a wild card series win against the Padres was as far as it went, with the Brewers – the most successful regular season outfit – proving too much in the NLDS. Performances this season will invariably influence the Las Vegas MLB odds for next year, but how good can this Cubs team be? There is still a championship window, but they always have a habit of closing too soon. The Cubs can now count themselves as one of the contenders for a World Series – but what do they actually have to do to win a championship again? Celebrate Achievements The series loss to the Brewers hit hard, and most Cubs fans immediately began debating how the team can do better next year. But there should be a recognition of the achievements of this year first. Ending a four-year playoff drought is a big deal, as is winning over 90 games for the first time since 2018. It also has to be accepted that the Cubs won their first playoff game – let alone a series – since 2017. All of these factors make the 2025 season a success. Celebrating the achievements brings a better atmosphere to Wrigley Field – which saw more than three million fans through the gates for the first time since 2019, by the way. Be Consistent Good vibes might be a starting point, but there obviously needs to be some plans for improvement as well. One of those would be being more consistent throughout the entire season. With 162 games to play every year, consistency is a rare beast compared to the NFL or even the NBA, but slumps have to be avoided. It was only in June that the Cubs were fighting for the best record in the entire league. For most of April to July, the number one spot in the NL Central looked like it belonged to the Cubs. Better consistency would have won the division, possibly brought the Cubs a bye, and given the team a better chance of making the World Series. Consolidate Strengths The good news for the Cubs is that there is actually not a lot it needs to do to continue being a good team. Those achievements we just mentioned prove that, meaning that Jed Hoyer’s front office will not have to be quite as busy as the majority of the league’s organizations during the offseason. The catcher situation was sorted out last year, with the Cubs now employing some of the best in the league. The infield is also not in need of major changes. Keeping the players happy is important, so there are no surprises in these positions next year. Just because an area of the roster is good, it doesn’t mean that you forget to praise it. Rotation Depth Pitching is probably the main area of concern ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Even there, this doesn’t mean that there is a crisis at the Cubs. But some work needs to be done – especially if the team wants to transform itself from that “good team” status, to “great team” level. Some work needs to be done on the bullpen, but Hoyer’s front office has tended to sort that out on a yearly basis, so there should not be too much concern. Boosting depth for the rotation is needed, however. A decision needs to be made on the future of Shota Imanaga, and the Cubs should also keep their ears to the ground to pick up a big name through the trade deadline or free agency. The Kyle Tucker Question Much of how the Cubs go into the 2026 season depends on the future of Kyle Tucker, of course. The four-time All-Star arrived from the Astros last year and became a firm fan favorite, as well as one of the most dynamic sluggers in the league. He is now one of the most attractive free agents in the game. There is talk that he could sign a new contract upwards of $400 million, which would far eclipse the current franchise record of $184 million paid to Jason Heyward . Tucker has not come without his injury problems, though, so allowing him to walk would not be the worst decision in the world. There would also be draft pick compensation to sweeten that deal for the Cubs. It looks like Tucker will leave, but any realignment or recruitment plans probably need to be put on hold until this question is answered definitively. Make the Next Step After missing out on the postseason for the last few years, there has been obvious growth and improvement within the Cubs organization – and that has shown itself in the way the team played, for the most part, this season. That means that making the all-important next step really only needs tweaks and adjustments, rather than a rebuild. That being said, if the Tucker situation goes the way most people think it will, there will be the opportunity to bring in a big-name, franchise player to boost the Cubs’ position. The NL Central will continue to be strong next year, so the Cubs need to step up. Then we can think about possibly winning a pennant – and taking a shot at the World Series again.
