Cubs enter spring training 2026 with high expectations: 'Thrilled for what's ahead'

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson didn’t send president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer nearly as many texts this offseason, compared to years past.

“He can thank Josie for that,” Swanson quipped at Cubs Convention last month.

The birth of Dansby and Mallory Swanson’s daughter this winter has kept the Chicago sports power couple busy. And while Dansby has embraced frank and frequent communication with Hoyer on team-building over the years, the clubhouse leader’s attention this offseason was required elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Hoyer and his front office group remade the bullpen, upgraded the rotation, and patched the lineup’s loss of right fielder Kyle Tucker with the signing of veteran third baseman Alex Bregman.

Swanson, even after turning down the flow of feedback, seemed pleased.

“Everyone's been very forward-thinking and what we need to do in order to be the best that we can,” he said. “Really loved what we've done with the bullpen. Loved being able to trade for Edward [Cabrera] – he's really emerging as a really great pitcher in this league. And then obviously, when you bring in a guy like Breggy, that just kind of solidifies everything.”

Every year, spring training glows with outsized optimism. Any hitter could have a breakout season. Any pitcher’s offseason arsenal addition could unlock another level. But the Cubs have reason to believe their roster is better than it was when camp opened this time last year.

The action at their spring training complex in Mesa, Arizona will ramp up next week. Pitchers and catchers’ first official workout is set for next Wednesday, and the first full squad workout is Feb. 16.

“Winning, even though it was one series in October against the Padres, just brought such a great vibe to Wrigley,” said right-hander Jameson Taillon, who started that wild-card series-clinching Game 3. “And I think it was kind of a culture shift for our organization and for everyone to see that the standard now is to make the playoffs.

“Obviously, bowing out in Game 5 [of the NLDS] wasn't what we wanted. But we should expect to be playing in October every single year. And I've even felt that momentum change a little bit.”

To build off that momentum, the Cubs will aim to win the division and a first-round playoff bye, marks they missed last year. To do so, they’ll have to go through the Brewers.

Their rivals to the north did trade ace Freddy Peralta to the Mets this offseason. But the Brewers, who had the best record in the majors in 2025, have upended the Cubs’ division aspirations the last two years despite losing core talent.

“We gave our fans five [home playoff] games,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “They were a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. 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.”

Sure, the loss of Tucker will affect the offense. And top prospect Owen Caissie was poised to play a role on the major-league squad before the Cubs sent him to Miami in the trade for Cabrera. But the Cubs achieved two major goals that they failed to meet last year: add an impact starting pitcher and sign Bregman.

“It's exciting,” left fielder Ian Happ said last month. “We all felt like we had a really good group last year – and the ability to build on that momentum. And so those are two moves that are going to make our group better, not to mention some of the other moves that they've made with the bullpen and [first baseman/outfielder] Tyler Austin, some of these guys. So I'm excited for it.”

Swanson acknowledged that he had asked last year for the Cubs to bring in Bregman, who he’d played with on the 2014 USA collegiate national team. But the Cubs’ offer last spring, which required approval from the Ricketts family to expand the offseason budget, fell short.

“A year later,” said Swanson. “But somebody I've always wanted to play with again. And just couldn't be more thrilled for what's ahead.”