Just how high will Cubs aim in pursuit of World Series title?

MESA, Ariz. — The carrot is dangling above the Cubs’ spring training complex, with no t-shirts or mementos commemorating a 2025 first-round playoff victory.

Veterans with playoff experience or without much tread left on their careers know the importance of not wasting a golden opportunity, especially after the front office performed its second consecutive season of heavy lifting.

That’s coupled with youngsters possessing an appetite for knowledge from the veterans and experience.

In many ways, this Cubs team has some resemblance to 2016 - without the zany morning stunts and gimmicks pulled by former strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss with the support of manager Joe Maddon.

“You can feel it with the energy in this clubhouse,” catcher Carson Kelly said recently in front of his corner locker. “We got a taste of it last year. And we crave that again. We come in and we know what we need to do. We know what we need to take care of.”

Assuming the Cubs surge to a comfortable lead in the diluted National League Central, the focus will shift to midseason reinforcements to overtake a Dodgers franchise that has gone all-out in winning consecutive World Series titles.

The Dodgers don’t listen to the narrative that the playoffs are a crapshoot. They simply aim high and create their own luck. The Giants followed the same format that helped them win three Series titles over a five-year span in the previous decade.

How high the Cubs aim this summer could be the difference that either draws them closer to 2016 or cements their current reputation as a team content to remain competitive but not aim higher for a World Series title.

In each of the past two offseasons, the front office took care of business. They acquired Kyle Tucker (albeit after moving Cody Bellinger and his $22.5 million to the Yankees for reliever Cody Poteet) prior to the 2025 season.

And last January, they seized a kernel of attention away from the Bears’ comeback playoff win over the rival Packers by finalizing a five-year, $175 million contract (thanks to $60 million in deferred payments) with prized third baseman Alex Bregman.

Nico Hoerner is still here, and Matt Shaw is learning to become a super utility player after Bregman’s arrival. And it’s time to keep adding - with more quality than quantity.

Before last July’s trade deadline, the Cubs acquired Mike Soroka when Shane Bieber was available. Soroka threw two innings in his Cubs debut before being placed on the injured list.

Bieber would have cost much more, but the Blue Jays weren’t shy about their Word Series aspirations. Bieber pitched Toronto to within one game of a coveted ring.

Without acquiring Aroldis Chapman at the 2016 trade deadline, the Cubs’ Word Series drought extends into a galaxy. And no one these days is wondering where they would be with Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, Adam Warren or Rashad Crawford - four players dealt for Chapman.

The farm system isn’t as deep as it was 2 1/2 years ago - before they traded the likes of Owen Caissie, Jackson Ferris, Hayden Wesneski, Cam Smith. But the Cubs are in bonafide championship contention mode, and former Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein often dwelled on the preciousness of each season.

Furthermore, the threat of a work stoppage after this season raises the question of a different landscape - with free agency, arbitration and service time looming as hot negotiating topics.

The fearless play of Pete Crow-Armstrong and pitching of Cade Horton have fueled the dreams of Cubs fans craving for the elation they experienced 10 years ago, in a manner similar to the magic Caleb Williams performed for the Bears.

Will this be the summer the Cubs push in their remaining prospect chips, or be content to be this era’s version of the 1990s Buffalo Bills?