MESA, Ariz. (670 The Score) – After four seasons as the Cubs’ top baseball executive and 13-plus years with the organization in total, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer admitted Sunday that 2025 has brought a new dynamic and anxiety regarding his future.
Hoyer is in the final season of the five-year contract that he signed in late 2020 to take over for Theo Epstein, and he isn’t sure what awaits in his long-term future past the end of his deal.
The Cubs haven’t made the playoffs in Hoyer’s tenure as their top baseball executive and haven’t made the postseason in a full 162-game season since 2018. They’re also coming off back-to-back 83-win campaigns that have left fans and the organization wanting more.
"Does it feel different than it has in the past? A little bit,” Hoyer said Sunday as the Cubs reported for spring training. “I've been here for 14 years and sort of generally in my career, I haven't had much uncertainty. And so I think with uncertainty does come a level of anxiety. I think that would be a lie to say that it doesn't.”
Hoyer has rebuilt the Cubs’ farm system and base of young talent, which is appealing to chairman Tom Ricketts and ownership, which has grown weary of being asked to rent high-priced free agents as a means to be above .500 and contend for the playoffs.
The Cubs ranked eighth in MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings late in the 2024 season, though they’ve taken a hit in that department in trading highly regarded third base prospect Cam Smith to the Astros in December as part of the package to acquire star right fielder Kyle Tucker.
Cubs ownership is ready to spend – as evidenced by still being in pursuit of free agent third baseman Alex Bregman – but it wants the farm system and homegrown talent to be the major source of winning in the future.
That’s Hoyer’s vision as well, even as his future remains uncertain.
“Has it caused some sort of like some introspection along the way?” Hoyer said. “I think that's fair to say, but when I look at it, we have a great front office, we have an incredible manager and a great coaching staff. I think we put together a really good team, we still have a really good farm system. I think every arrow is sort of pointing up in this organization right now.
“My stability in Chicago has been remarkable, but at the same time, I’m super excited about this year and what we have moving forward.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.