Vision for the Future: Chicago Cubs Look Optimistically Toward 2025

Despite a promising start to their seven-game homestand with a decisive 9-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday, the Chicago Cubs are clearly focused on the next season. With only twelve games remaining and the Cubs five games behind a playoff spot, the primary objective is to start the next season with higher ambitions and a better outcome. A central piece of this future vision is Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga, who earned the trust of manager Craig Counsell early in his MLB career. The 31-year-old veteran has proven, despite his rookie status in the league, that his skills and technique can also lead to success in Major League Baseball. "Shota has met every challenge," praised Counsell. "What Shota does well, just works." Imanaga has shown his strengths in areas the Cubs had anticipated: he limits walks, fills the strike zone, and rarely allows home runs despite a high strike rate. However, the question remains on how he will handle the rigorous MLB schedule. Counsell indicated that this is the final test for Imanaga this season. With an impressive ERA of 3.03 and strong performances in September, Imanaga has established himself as a key player for the coming season. Another bright spot is Michael Busch, who has demonstrated consistent performance even during challenging phases. "MLB is about continuously making adjustments," Counsell explained. Busch has embraced this challenge and, with a wRC+ of 123 and an fWAR of 2.6, is one of the best first basemen in the league. His ability to adapt to new situations and fill gaps makes him a valuable player for the Cubs. Nate Pearson, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays just before the trade deadline, has also made impressive progress. With an ERA of 2.57 in 21 innings with the Cubs, Pearson has stabilized his performance, particularly through increased use of his slider and a change in his mound positioning. These adjustments have drastically reduced his walk rate and helped him gain more control. Although Pearson still needs to work on avoiding hard contact, his development over the past six weeks shows promising signs. With the right adjustments and focused offseason training, Pearson could soon become a reliable reliever for the Cubs. Looking towards 2025, the Chicago Cubs thus have several significant strengths and promising players that support their ambitions and goals for the coming season.