Chicago Cubs Not Looking Like Playoff Team Based on Projections

After the 2023 season ended in disappointing fashion where the Chicago Cubs missed the playoffs again, ownership and the front office were lockstep in saying their goal was to put together a contending team.

Stars were on their wish list, but really none were landed.

To this point, there has been solid players added to the roster, but nobody that draws headlines.

Shota Imanaga, Hector Neris and Michael Busch are all expected to be major contributors, but a first-year MLB starter, a bullpen piece and a burgeoning prospect won't push the Cubs into a contending tier.

They're banking on new manager Craig Counsell getting the most out of the roster, just like he did with the Milwaukee Brewers.

But two different projection sites are indicating that it will be an uphill battle for Chicago to make the playoffs this season.

FanGraphs and PECOTA both have their chances under 40-percent.

Not quite the contender that they were aiming to have at this point in the year.

Of course, there is still time left for them to add the star power they set out to sign. Cody Bellinger continues to be connected to them and Matt Chapman is still on the market.

Adding the former MVP and a Gold Glove third baseman would certainly raise the profile of the Cubs.

Even getting one of these two onto their roster would be an improvement to what has been done so far this offseason.

One thing is certain, Chicago has not been able to achieve the status they wanted to have when they entered the free agency period after 2023.

There is still plenty of work for the front office to do that would give Counsell the best possible chance at getting this franchise into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.