Jed Hoyer says Cubs season was disappointing, pleased with David Ross as manager
CHICAGO (CBS) – The Cubs season ended in disappointing fashion after a 6-14 stretch to finish September cost them a spot in the playoffs.
In a year of ups and downs, they came up two wins short of a wild card spot.
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said this season was not a success after missing the playoffs.
Hoyer also said manager David Ross will be back.
"I was very pleased with Rossy this year," Hoyer said. "The things I mentioned before, coming from being 10 [games] under and maintaining, not only just the competitiveness but also never having the team focus on individual stuff. It was always about the team. We never lost that. Now, creating that type of culture is incredibly difficult, and he does a fantastic job of that. I know the manager in a big market is always going to get criticism. That's part of the job."
Hoyer added he knows Ross will spend the offseason thinking about how to improve and that "it is a very important year, next year, for him and for all of us."
Then there's free agent-to-be Cody Bellinger, who said playing for the Cubs was really special, but that doesn't mean his time in Chicago is over after a season that saw him put up his best numbers since his 2019 MVP season.
Hoyer said he's already had dialogue with Bellinger, knowing full well the price tag will be high.
"I think you're always trying to sell free agents on what it's like to play in Chicago," Hoyer said. "There's nothing better than having a guy experience it for a year and openly say he loves it. Certainly it gives us a shot. We don't have to recruit him very hard. He knows what this place is all about."