Following Wednesday’s loss at Wrigley to the Oakland A’s, the Milwaukee Brewers officially clinched the NL Central title despite manager Craig Counsell‘s move to the friendly confines. Diminutive would be an understatement for this Cubs team this season, and their expectations following last year’s heartbreaking end and their chances of a playoff appearance for the first time since 2020 continuously slip away with each day.
The addition of Counsell last winter set high expectations for the Chicago Cubs, yet they made minimal moves. Some questionable game management and a lack of signings can be attributed to this lackluster season.
Albeit it isn’t all Counsell’s fault, players drastically underperformed in the season’s early stages, going 21-34 post-May 1st entering July, a league-low only ahead of the White Sox and Athletics in that span.
In the desperate push for a playoff appearance, something the city of Chicago craves, here are three players the Cubs should look to part ways with this summer.
3 Players the Cubs Should Let Go
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
The Professor. He and the organization would’ve hoped for a better season, as this is his 10th with the team, and he is the lone survivor from that historic 2016 championship team. The 34-year-old currently possesses a 6.25 ERA, which is his career worst, and since his 2020 campaign saw him finish 9th in Cy Young voting, he has a 4.89 ERA.
It’s safe to say that Hendricks’ finest days are behind him. And with the Cubs looking to make that push alongside the development of guys like Ben Brown and Cade Horton, it seems obvious Hendricks’ departure remains imminent.
Though he should see his way out, or potentially to a long reliever role if he manages to stay, the people of Chicago should and will be eternally grateful for his tenure with the organization.
Drew Smyly, LHP
Smyly’s time with the Cubs has been nothing short of a disappointment. He posted a 5.00 ERA after a poor opening to the season, which moved him to a bullpen role, where he has been for the 2024 season. This season, though, hasn’t been much better. The lone lefty in the pen has continuously cost the Cubs ball games and was placed on waivers earlier this season.
Though not the worst reliever available, Smyly has been a failure for this team, and the Cubs should look not to pick up his $10 million option and look elsewhere, maybe even Jordan Wicks within the rotation, for the left-handed left-handed option they need.
Nico Hoerner, Second Baseman
Out of the three, this is the least likely yet the most important move for the Cubs to make and hold valuable trade capital for the Cubs to go out there and get someone. Rumors for Hoerner exiting the 312 swirled around at the deadline, and though he remained in the blue pinstripes for the 2024 season, I think it makes sense for him to play elsewhere next spring.
Hoerner is having an average year slashing .268/.332/.358 and hasn’t been a liability; that lies in his stunting of development for the Cubs pipeline. Currently, Kevin Alcantara, Matt Shaw, and James Triantos all sit in Iowa ready to progress onto the big stage, and guys like Michael Busch could also play at second base if the Cubs were to look elsewhere.
It’s nothing against Hoerner; if the Cubs want to return to the glory days of the 2016 team, they need to trust their youth ready to wreak havoc and cut ties with some familiar faces who wouldn’t be players realistically on that side.
Main Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
