A 90-win team is good. A 94-win team that breathes in October is built. That’s where we take the Cubs: away from splash-chasing and toward a durable run-prevention machine that travels, plays in the wind, and punishes mistakes. We start with the hard truths about the Ricketts family’s spending posture, the real payroll buffer under the tax, and how that shapes every move this winter without handcuffing the deadline.

Shota Imanaga accepting the qualifying offer is the hinge that swings the plan open. One year at a higher AAV gives Jed maximum flexibility and gives Shota a sharpened incentive to dominate. We break down why that alignment matters if labor clouds linger and why a focused, chip-on-shoulder Imanaga can anchor a rotation built on health management and targeted whiff. Then we scout Phil Maton’s fit: vertical curve, sneaky cutter, hidden arm action, and the hilarious side effect of making big leaguers bark at their bats. At Wrigley, that shape plays even better. Add one more strikeout starter, two trustworthy relievers, and the bullpen stops being a nightly coin flip.

We also map the cleanest offensive tweak—first base platoon help versus lefties—without stealing runway from Matt Shaw, Owen Caissie, and the young core. Defense remains a weapon. Counsell’s rest patterns will save bullets for September. And yes, leadership matters: Dansby’s detail and tone pull the dugout forward when games get heavy. Stack these edges and the Central looks winnable while the Dodgers become beatable in a short series.

If you care about how the Cubs actually win more games—in this park, with this manager, under this budget—this breakdown gives you the blueprint and the why behind it. Subscribe, share with a fellow Cubs fan, and leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify to help the show grow. What’s the one move you’d make first?

Thanks for tuning in!

- Carl & Mahoney