The Chicago Cubs saw their season come to an abrupt conclusion Wednesday night when they lost their second consecutive game to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round of the National League playoffs.
The Cubs had a streaky regular season, often showing their dominance in the first half of the season with notable winning streaks, but they were unable to keep up with the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. They finished in second place to the Brewers, a full 14.0 games behind Milwaukee. They didn't clinch their playoff spot until the final days of the regular season.
Chicago ended the year and entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the National League playoffs. They had to go on the road to play the Padres. That proved to be a big disadvantage, because the Padres were among the hottest teams in Major League Baseball as the postseason got underway.
There could be significant changes on the Cubs roster as the team prepares for the 2027 season. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, two veteran mainstays in the Cubs lineup, will be free agents in 2027 and it seems quite likely that both will be with new teams when the upcoming season gets underway.
Happ spoke in the locker room and it sounded like he was saying goodbye to the organization. “All I can say is that I love being a Cub,” Happ said, per the Marquee Sports Network. “I've loved my time. I've loved the place, the people, Wrigley Field, the fanbase. And it's been truly special. I don't think there's a better place in baseball to play.”
Pitcher Shota Imanaga will also be a free agent in the offseason, and he may not figure in the team's pitching plans for the future.