The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 offseason has left fans scratching their heads. With glaring holes in their rotation and a lineup that lacks consistent firepower, the team has drawn heavy criticism. Recently, Keith Costas predicted that the Chicago Cubs would break their playoff spell by securing a postseason victory in 2025. A feat not achieved since 2017. The team is known for its loyal fan base but this claim was met with skepticism because of the uncertainties surrounding the team’s recent offseason strategies and whether they could live up to the high hopes placed upon them by fans and experts alike.
The Cubs have been stuck in a performance streak for the two years with the same 83-win results, in both 2023 and 2024. This winter fans anticipated bold moves to reinforce the team’s shaky foundation. Instead, the Cubs have opted for restraint, leaving gaps in both their rotation and lineup unaddressed.
A division up for grabs but are the Cubs ready?
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MLB Network posted a video of Keith Costas making predictions for the Chicago Cubs winning the 2025 playoffs. He said the “Chicago Cubs will win a postseason game for the first time since 2017. They’ve been twice since then, were swept out of a wild-card series. The COVID season, lost a wild-card game before that. 83 wins each of the last two seasons. The Cubs get over the hump in a wide-open central, get back to the playoffs, make a move there, and win a game.”
Bold prediction for the Cubs next season?
Keith Costas sees Chicago winning a Postseason game.#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/8v3si68sSK
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 12, 2025
Robert Flores added that considering the division and the roster the Cubs have assembled, they should fulfill the prediction made by Costas. Heading into the season, they should solidify their status as contenders in the NL Central division. Offensively, the team has a lineup featuring promising players, like Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Seiya Suzuki. However, doubts remain about their capacity to maintain performance throughout a 162-game season.
The lack of a true power hitter exacerbates their struggles, as other Central teams, like the Cardinals and Brewers, make incremental improvements. While top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong’s debut sparked enthusiasm, fans worry about relying too heavily on unproven talent to carry a playoff push. Perhaps most frustrating for fans is the lack of urgency from the front office.
Cubs fans have every reason to question Costas’s optimism. Without significant upgrades or a dramatic breakthrough from their current roster, a single postseason win may remain an elusive dream. For a franchise that once broke a 108-year curse, 2025 feels like a year where ambition has taken a backseat to cautious rebuilding. Fans are left to wonder: when will the Cubs truly aim higher?
The rotation remains a weak link for the Cubs
Fans might feel that the 2025 narrative surrounding the Cubs is a rerun of last year. The familiar refrain—”The NL Central is wide open, and with the roster the Cubs have, they’ll win the division and finally win a postseason game”—has been met with frustration by those who’ve seen the team falter before. They argue that the Cubs will collapse in September as they have in previous seasons, expressing doubt that this year will be any different.
This is the same stuff that people said last season. “The central division is wide open and with roster the cubs have they’ll win the division and win a postseason game.” SMH 🤦🏻♂️ they’ll blow it in September like always. Change my mind
— PxPSports™️ (@ThePlayxPlayGuy) January 12, 2025
One user believes the Cubs’ 2025 season will follow the same disappointing pattern unless they make a key addition, like signing Tanner Scott. With bullpen struggles and September collapses haunting the team in recent years, adding a reliable arm could help solidify their chances. However, without such a move, skeptics argue the Cubs will once again fail to live up to expectations, despite the wide-open division and solid roster.
Not unless they sign Tanner Scott
— born2run99 (@born2run99) January 12, 2025
Another Cubs fan claimed the idea of winning a postseason game in 2025 has become a punchline. While some fans compared it to the disappointing years of the 1990s. After a period of rebuilding and a World Series championship, this offseason performance has led to a sense that the Cubs are slipping back into the mediocrity of the past. Despite the potential in their roster, the team is still a long way from truly competing for meaningful October baseball.
Winning a postseason game 🤦♂️🤣🤣 damn Tom and Jed have brought the Cubs back to the expectations of the 90s
— 🔥 Todd Blowes (@madnes5betz_12) January 12, 2025
One commenter stated the question isn’t just about winning a playoff game, but whether the team will even make the playoffs in the first place. With the roster still lacking key upgrades, especially in the rotation and power-hitting department, doubts about their postseason chances linger. Without significant moves to address these weaknesses, many believe the Cubs will struggle to stay competitive, let alone secure a spot in October.
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How will they win a playoff game when they won’t make the playoffs? 🤔
— Ethan (@BrewCrewEthan) January 12, 2025
For some fans, the pitching staff remains the biggest obstacle to playoff contention. Outside of Shota Imanaga, who’s seen as a potential bright spot, the rotation lacks the depth and consistency needed to compete in a tough division. Given the struggles in recent seasons, fans believe the Cubs won’t even come close to sniffing the playoffs unless they make drastic improvements to their rotation.
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In essence, despite a promising roster, the Cubs’ lack of significant offseason moves has left fans skeptical about their 2025 prospects. With pitching still a major concern and no true power hitter added, many question if they can compete in a wide-open NL Central.
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