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Cubs: 3 scapegoats for disappointing season not named Jed Hoyer

By Noah Yingling

Oct 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jed Hoyer, General Manager for the Chicago Cubs, talks with media during workouts the day prior to the start of the NLCS baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jed Hoyer, General Manager for the Chicago Cubs, talks with media during workouts the day prior to the start of the NLCS baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /
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While the Chicago Cubs dismantled much of their core last season, they expected to be a bit better in 2022. That has not happened.

After trading Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez, Craig Kimbrel, and Joc Pederson (among others) at the trade deadline last year, the Chicago Cubs expected to be a little bit better this season.

They selected Wade Miley off of waivers from Cincinnati after they ditched him in a salary dump. They also signed Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $50 million deal plus a player option for a third year for at least $21 million but incentives could take it up to $25 million. They signed relievers Jesse Chavez, Chris Martin, Daniel Norris, Mychal Givens, Robert Gsellman, and David Robertson, catcher Yan Gomes, infielder Andrelton Simmons, and outfielder Seiya Suzuki to a five-year deal for $85 million.

Stroman and Suzuki were the only big moves but all of those moves were a sign that the Cubs didn’t plan on rolling over for the 2022 season.

But things have gone awry as they are 34-54 and on pace for a 63-99 record.

There is definitely plenty of blame to go around. Some would say that a lot of the blame should be on the shoulders of Cubs President Jed Hoyer. He definitely should shoulder some of the blame but he is far from the only one.

3 scapegoats for the Chicago Cubs 2022 season

Manager David Ross

Of the three scapegoats on this list, David Ross shoulders the lowest amount of blame. He wasn’t given a good deck of cards but some of the ways that he has played them is not great.

Case in point: Jason Heyward.

Jason Heyward has missed half of the season due to multiple injured list stints. In fact, he is currently on the IL with a knee injury and he last played in the majors on June 24. He returned from his first IL stint on June 1 and from June 1 through June 24, he played in 21 games and started 18 games.

In that span, he hit .200/.268/.292.

Heyward is not an MLB player anymore but his eight-year contract runs through next season.

When he returns, will Heyward get consistent playing time as he did before? He shouldn’t. Heyward, at best, should be on the bench.

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