Jed Hoyer Targets Pitching Improvements Following Wild-Card Sweep

Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer stated that pitching acquisition is the top offseason priority after the team allowed 12 runs in a two-game playoff sweep by the San Diego Padres.

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer announced Friday that the team will focus resources on pitching acquisitions this winter. The decision follows a regular season where Chicago surrendered the most home runs in the National League. The Cubs were recently swept in the wild-card round by the San Diego Padres, allowing 12 runs over two games, including first-inning home runs by Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado in Game 1.

Bullpen instability contributed to the team losing home-field advantage during the second half of the season. Closer Jacob Webb blew three saves by allowing late-inning home runs, while Phil Maton, signed for $7.25 million next year, posted a 6.18 ERA across 31 appearances. Hunter Harvey, who signed for $6 million last winter, spent the entire season on the injured list without throwing a pitch.

The starting rotation also faced significant durability issues as Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Ben Brown missed time with injuries. Midseason acquisition Kevin Gausman recorded a 4.83 ERA with the Cubs and allowed three runs in three innings during Game 2 of the playoffs. Clay Holmes, acquired from the Mets for a top prospect, struggled in September with an 8.24 ERA in four starts and did not appear in the postseason.

Several pitchers are now reaching free agency, including Shota Imanaga, David Peterson, and Matthew Boyd. While outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are also set to become free agents, Hoyer described the position player group as the best in baseball and indicated that internal pipelines exist to fill those offensive roles.