MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs held their first full-squad workout Friday, with the position players officially assembling for the first time as they begin a pivotal season for the franchise. The Cubs have not reached the postseason since 2020 and have not won a playoff game since 2017. The core of the team that became curse-breaking champions in 2016 is a fond yet distant memory. The more recent era of Cubs baseball has featured its fair share of likable stars but has mostly been defined by mediocrity and disappointment.
The 2025 Cubs are eager to change that. And in an NL Central division that appears up for grabs, it’s about time Chicago steps forward as a clear-cut contender, rather than merely a wait-and-see team. After a busy offseason that featured both a huge acquisition in Kyle Tucker and the failed pursuit of another star in Alex Bregman, the Cubs have been in the news from early November all the way until the opening of camp this week. Some would argue they’ve put together a roster that portrays them as the contenders they strive to become. But now they have to go out and prove it.
Here’s the latest from Sloan Park:
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Alex Bregman is not a Cub — and that’s OK
With Friday marking the first official full day of spring activity for Cubs position players, nearly every key hitter spoke to reporters to reflect on the winter that was and discuss early expectations for the season ahead. But because of the timing of these inaugural spring sessions, there was a consistent line of questioning regarding a player who wasn’t anywhere near the Cubs’ complex: Bregman, who recently chose a three-year deal with the Red Sox over reported offers from several other clubs, including Chicago.
“I think everyone figured he’d be a really good fit for this team,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Obviously, it didn’t end up happening, but Jed’s done such a tremendous job in putting together what I feel like is probably our best roster yet, just in terms of the depth, in terms of filling needs that we may have had in previous years.”
Several of Swanson’s teammates echoed this sentiment, maintaining a steadfast belief the Cubs got definitively better this winter, regardless of coming up short on Bregman. They replaced Cody Bellinger with Kyle Tucker, fortified the rotation with lefty Matthew Boyd and added four veteran relievers to bolster the bullpen in Ryan Pressly, Ryan Brasier, Eli Morgan and…