Retooled Cubs' goal for 2026? Look no further than '16 glory
CHICAGO -- A group of Cubs players -- including new third baseman Alex Bregman -- spent part of Friday morning at Wrigley Field, doing some light hitting in the batting cage, but mostly hanging out and talking. Nico Hoerner did take a moment to head up the tunnel, braving the January chill to peek out at the Friendly Confines.
“Looked around Wrigley,” Hoerner said. “Missed it.”
The players are planning on this year including plenty of games in the old place deep into October, following an exit from the playoffs in the National League Division Series last year. The disappointment felt by the team then has been replaced by an excitement over a busy offseason, leading up to this weekend’s Cubs Convention.
The Sheraton Grand Chicago was packed with fans for the opening ceremonies on Friday night, which included the start of this year’s 10-year anniversary celebration of the 2016 World Series champions. Anthony Rizzo took the stage with the trophy held over his head to the raucous delight of a packed ballroom.
It was a reminder of where the ‘26 Cubs want to wind up, especially after experiencing the electricity inside Wrigley Field last fall.
"We gave our fans five games. They were a lot of fun,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And to capture the whole thing, it’s another three weeks of baseball. Another three long, fun, hard, completely enjoyable weeks. And just think about that -- how much more that provides. So, that’s what you want to do. You want to go through that month and have a blast.
"I think everybody who experienced it this year -- the players, specifically -- you felt it. And you felt how special it is. Then you sit there and try to describe it, and you just say the best way is just to be there again. So, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Coming off a 92-win season and a spot in the postseason as a Wild Card team, the Cubs have been aggressive in tackling their offseason goals.
The North Siders needed an impact rotation arm, so they traded for hard-throwing righty Edward Cabrera. Check. The Cubs needed an impact bat, so they went out and signed Bregman to a five-year contract worth $175 million. Check. Chicago needed to address multiple bullpen vacancies, so it signed a pile of pitchers (including Phil Maton on a two-year deal). Check.
“I think that we all had a dose of reality of what we needed to do to get better,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “Everyone’s been very forward-thinking in what we need to do in order to be the best that we can. … They’ve addressed everything that needed to be addressed. I just couldn’t be more excited about getting this year going.”
Hoerner said bringing Bregman into the fold was a “huge jolt” for the team.
"For his immediate impact he has as a player,” Hoerner said, “but also just significant for the direction of the team and the commitment to winning here. We signed a player who [has] played 100-plus postseason games and impacted the game at the highest level on the biggest stages. From everything we’ve heard, he does so internally through culture as well. I think that lets all of us know the direction we’re on.”
Bregman has certainly been doing his part in these early days with the team.
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After Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon sent Bregman a congratulatory text about his contract on Saturday, the third baseman FaceTimed the pitcher, asking if he could swing by his Arizona home to visit. Ian Happ did not have Bregman’s number, but he soon had a message from his new teammate. Bregman has been diving into the city’s sports scene, attending Bulls and Blackhawks games, with plans to go to the Bears’ playoff game on Sunday.
And after Bregman spent his morning getting to know more teammates and staff at Wrigley Field, he received a loud reception from fans when he took the stage during Cubs Convention’s opening ceremony Friday night.
"The city’s buzzing,” Happ said. “To have what the Bears are doing on top of some of the signings we’ve made, there’s a lot of momentum here. I think people will be really excited to see us and the ‘16 team and what’s going on in the city this weekend. It’s a thrill to be back.”
Getting back to the postseason is the task ahead.
"Winning,” Taillon said, “even though it was one series in October against the Padres, it just brought such a great vibe to Wrigley. And I think it was kind of a culture shift for our organization, for everyone to see that the standard now is to make the playoffs.
"Obviously, bowing out in Game 5 [of the NLDS] isn’t what we wanted, but we should expect to be playing in October every single year. And I think I've even felt that momentum change a little bit.”