The Chicago Cubs logo shown on a ball bag before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles The Chicago Cubs logo shown on a ball bag before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles

Over the past two years, the Chicago Cubs have aimed to contend, but they’ve consistently fallen short of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and have struggled to compete for a Wild Card spot in the other divisions. This offseason presents an opportunity to make changes, given the abundance of offensive talent on the market. However, the Cubs have made some questionable moves, including two additions that land on the list of the four worst contracts for their 2025 payroll.

C Matt Thaiss
One-Year, $1 Million
Matt Thaiss was one of the first roster additions for the Cubs, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on November 20 for cash considerations. Thaiss, primarily a backup catcher for the Angels, will fill a similar role behind Miguel Amaya for the Cubs. The issue lies with his $1 million deal to avoid arbitration. Thaiss has a career batting line of .208/.313/.342 with 22 home runs, 79 RBI, and an 81 OPS+ across 771 plate appearances in 245 games. While he’s not known for his catching prowess, Thaiss does rank decently at blocking wild pitches, but his framing and control of the run game are subpar.

RP Julian Merryweather
One-Year, $1.2 Million
The Cubs also signed Julian Merryweather to a one-year, $1.2 million deal to avoid arbitration. Injuries derailed Merryweather’s 2024 season, limiting him to just 15 innings with a 6.60 ERA. However, he had a strong 2023 campaign, posting a 3.38 ERA in 72 innings across 69 games. Despite this, Merryweather’s career ERA+ is just 92, and his limited success makes it unlikely he will maintain a strong performance in 2025, especially if he struggles with injuries again.

SP Matthew Boyd
Two Years, $29 Million
Matthew Boyd was signed to a two-year, $29 million contract on December 2, joining the Cubs’ rotation. However, the Cubs would have been better off pursuing Max Fried or Corbin Burnes. Boyd, who will turn 34 in February, has a history of injury and inconsistency, making 30 or more starts in only two of his eight MLB seasons, with his most recent occurrence in 2019. While he posted a 2.72 ERA across 39.2 innings in 2024, his small sample size raises doubts about his ability to sustain that performance.

1B Cody Bellinger
One-Year, $27.5 Million; Player Option for 2026 Could Make It Two Years, $52.5 Million
By Opening Day, Cody Bellinger could be on another team, but for now, his contract with the Cubs is concerning. After a strong 2023 season, Chicago signed Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million deal with an opt-out after 2024 and a player option for the third year. Despite winning the MVP in 2019, Bellinger’s performance has been inconsistent, with most of his production in that MVP season coming before June. His up-and-down offensive production raises questions about his long-term value.

By admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Missed?

Here’s your rephrased and expanded blog post version, over 456 words: — Boston Celtics Legend Weighs in on Caitlin Clark and WNBA Pay Debate The conversation around pay equity in professional sports has once again taken center stage, with WNBA star Caitlin Clark becoming one of the most prominent voices in the discussion. The rookie sensation has been outspoken about the significant pay gap between male and female basketball players, sparking debates across sports media, fan communities, and now even among NBA legends. Clark’s stance on the issue has been clear and unapologetic. Last month, she made headlines when she arrived to warm-ups wearing a shirt emblazoned with the message, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” The statement wasn’t just about her own salary—it was a call to action for the league and its stakeholders to recognize the value, talent, and growing marketability of women’s basketball. Her boldness has not gone unnoticed. A Boston Celtics legend—whose own career was defined by leadership both on and off the court—has now voiced support for Clark’s perspective. While not delving into the specifics of WNBA contracts or league finances, the Celtics great made it clear that the conversation Clark is pushing forward is both necessary and overdue. The issue of WNBA compensation has been a long-standing point of contention. While NBA players often sign multi-million-dollar contracts bolstered by massive television deals, WNBA players operate under a much smaller revenue pool. The average WNBA salary is a fraction of its NBA equivalent, and even the league’s top earners fall short of the baseline salary of NBA rookies. Critics often argue that pay should be tied to league revenue, while advocates point out that the WNBA has been historically underpromoted and underfunded, creating a self-fulfilling cycle that keeps salaries low. Clark is far from the first WNBA player to use her platform for advocacy. In 2020, players made a united stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, wearing shirts and using media appearances to amplify the message. Then in 2022, during the second half of the All-Star Game, every player took the court wearing Brittney Griner jerseys while the Phoenix Mercury star was detained in Russia—a powerful gesture of solidarity that resonated worldwide. What sets Clark apart is her combination of star power and timing. Entering the league with massive attention from her historic college career, she has quickly become one of the most marketable athletes in women’s basketball. Her willingness to speak openly about pay equity not only draws attention from fans but also places additional pressure on league executives, sponsors, and media partners to reexamine how the WNBA is valued. With NBA legends like this former Celtics star voicing support, the conversation gains an added layer of credibility and visibility. While solutions to the pay gap are complex and will require structural changes, the public momentum Clark is generating suggests that the discussion is far from fading. In fact, it may be entering its most crucial stage yet—one that could shape the future of women’s basketball for generations to come. — If you’d like, I can also prepare a more debate-focused version that contrasts opposing viewpoints on the WNBA pay gap for a more argumentative blog style.