Cubs president Jed Hoyer was just in his 20s when he began his front-office career with the Red Sox in 2002 as assistant to general manager Theo Epstein—who was the same age at the time. Together, they orchestrated the end of Boston’s infamous World Series drought, catapulting Epstein to stardom and establishing Hoyer as a rising executive in his own right.
After the 2009 season, Hoyer ventured out on his own, taking over as general manager of the Padres, where he was seen as the ideal analytics-driven leader. In San Diego, his job security never seemed in doubt during his two-season tenure.
Then, he reunited with Epstein in Chicago, embarking on another curse-breaking mission with the Cubs. Winning the 2016 World Series cemented Hoyer’s place in franchise history, making him difficult to part with.
However, that championship banner is now collecting dust. As Hoyer enters his 14th season with the Cubs—and his fifth as team president since Epstein’s departure—the pressure has never been greater.
No postseason appearances under his leadership. A sluggish rebuild that has yet to propel the Cubs back to contender status. A frustrating 2024 season, by Hoyer’s own admission. And now, with 2025 looming, anything short of a playoff berth would be a catastrophe.
Adding to the urgency, Hoyer is in the final year of his contract. If this roster—designed to win 90-plus games—falters, his departure could be inevitable. At 51, he’s well aware of the stakes. Meeting with the media on the first day of spring training, the weight of the situation was evident.
“Does it feel different than before? A little bit,” Hoyer admitted.
“I’ve been here for 14 years. For most of my career, I haven’t faced much uncertainty. But with that uncertainty comes some anxiety—I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Has it prompted some introspection? Absolutely.”
Last month, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts offered lukewarm support, telling the Sun-Times there’s “no litmus test” for Hoyer’s future, implying that a playoff berth isn’t necessarily a requirement.
“ ‘Lame duck’ isn’t how I’d describe what Jed is doing,” Ricketts said. “He’s working really hard. I think he’s had a strong offseason.”
Yet, history suggests otherwise. In 2019, Joe Maddon’s final season as Cubs manager carried a sense of inevitability. Last year, Ricketts publicly backed David Ross—“He’s our guy,” he said—only for the team to fire him and bring in Craig Counsell. Hoyer, however, still has a real chance to secure his future.
“We have a great front office,” Hoyer said, sitting beside GM Carter Hawkins. “An incredible manager, a strong coaching staff, and a really good team. Our farm system remains strong. Every indicator is pointing in the right direction. There’s more opportunity here than risk.”
Still, Counsell added to the pressure last season when he bluntly stated that the Cubs’ roster wasn’t good enough. The team finished 10 games behind the Brewers, with key weaknesses in the bullpen and lineup. Hoyer responded this offseason by acquiring elite hitter Kyle Tucker and reliable reliever Ryan Pressly. A potential move for free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman remains a possibility, though Hoyer downplayed the idea.
Meanwhile, the Cubs rank 10th in MLB payroll, spending less than two-thirds of what the Dodgers have allocated to their star-studded roster. What Hoyer could accomplish with a truly blank check remains unknown.
But for now, it’s simple: postseason or bust. Hoyer understands that. He feels it.
“I take this job very personally,” he said. “You want to put a winner on the field, to be proud of the product.
“There’s increased pressure, and there should be. We’ve built to this point. Now, it’s time to deliver. And that should be a lot of fun.”