loading . . . Relative Spending, Luxury Tax, the Big Spenders, Trade Values, and Other Cubs Bullets KIND OF a big day for the Chicago Bears. They have to do it against their biggest rival, without two of their top offensive skill players, and with the division potentially on the line. The nerves are building. If you want to watch with friends, come to the BN Watch Party tonight for the game at Lottie’s! The final, official luxury tax payroll figures for 2025 are out, and the Chicago Cubs were 11th … in a year they were really trying to win: The final CBT payrolls with the Dodgers paying record taxes pic.twitter.com/W8B78F3Mkt— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 19, 2025 I understand that the final payroll number isn’t something, in and of itself, that you shoot for. Some years you’ll be higher, some years lower, and as long as you’re properly supporting the baseball operations department with resources, the number matters a lot less. But what bothers me is the relative positioning, and the fact that the Cubs wound up a full $10 million below the luxury tax. Again, the Cubs were behind 10 other teams – the CHICAGO CUBS – were behind 10 other teams in a year they were actually really pushing to win. That does not sit right with me, and I’ll tell you now, that will not sit right in 2026 if it happens again. Just reviewing the list again, it’s hard not to notice that the Cubs, for example, spent more than $20 million less than the Red Sox, when you include the luxury tax bill. Almost $50(!) million less than the Padres. Almost $140(!!!) million less than the Phillies. Not even talking about the Dodgers or Yankees or Mets, who always get held out as the ones that are different. Talking about the Philadelphia Phillies, absolutely obliterating the Cubs’ spending by miles and miles and miles. Really think about that. What the Cubs could’ve done with that difference in a competitive year. Speaking of spending, the suggests that the Mets have at least another $30M left available to commit, with the understanding that some money is reserved for in-season maneuverings: As typical , the usual idiots misinterpreting a Post article on Mets payroll for ‘ 26. I can’t imagine our payroll to be lower than last year. It’s always hard to predict but that would be my best guess.— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) December 19, 2025 The Mets and Cubs could still be competing on a handful of free agents, so it’s notable. Also, if you’re a multi-deca-billionaire owner, you truly must understand that this kind of comment is never going to be well-received by your fans: Payroll watchers always forget to budget for waiver claims, player movement from minors to majors and trade deadline moves. That’s how it typically works.— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) December 19, 2025 Saving money for the Trade Deadline is one thing, but the other stuff – waiver claims, normal roster churn for pre-arb players – is like a marginal difference of maybe $5 million between the most and least aggressive clubs. Given how aggressive they’ve been this offseason, I hope the O’s are done: The Orioles likely aren't done after acquiring Shane Baz, says @Ken_Rosenthal. "I would not be surprised if they went out and maybe signed or traded for another starting pitcher." pic.twitter.com/CDr6cu0cmJ— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 19, 2025 Speaking of which, given how much the O’s gave up to get Shane Baz – just an absurdly enormous trade package* – I am thinking either that no other controllable starters are going to get traded, or the under-the-hood stuff on Baz was so super extreme that his value on the market was far and away higher than Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, etc. (I understand that Baz was a top prospect for a reason, but eventually he’s gotta stay healthy and show it.) *I’ve tried to do a little one-to-one with the Cubs to figure out very roughly what the equivalent package would be, and although it’s HIGHLY imprecise, the parallel is something like Ethan Conrad, Kane Kepley, Josiah Hartshorn, Cole Mathis, and a really good breakout top-20 system pitching prospect of the type the Cubs don’t really have. Even that feels like it isn’t as good as the package the Orioles actually gave up. So, imagine the Cubs giving up even more than that for three years of Baz, betting that he’ll finally break out. Yikes. Do not do that, Cubs. Just freaking spend some money on a free agent … Just a fantastic read about what veteran leadership can look like in the minor leagues: By midsummer in Myrtle Beach, losses had piled up piled up for the Pelicans. Frustrations simmered and the team seemed stuck in neutral. Then Chris Clarke walked into the clubhouse. ⬇️outofthevines.com/2025/12/18/p…— Greg Huss (@outofthevines.bsky.social) 2025-12-18T15:56:46.477Z MORE CUBS FROM BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter CHICAGO BEARS NOTES — HAPPY FRIDAY! 🐻 Why Doesn't Caleb Williams Throw More INTs? 🐻 Kyle Monangai's Next Big Move 🐻 How You Can Party With Us Tomorrow 🐻 And MORE -> https://t.co/kvAUObExEv pic.twitter.com/OzX3aBWIJW— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 19, 2025 Nikola Vucevic, Matas Buzelis Power Healthy Bulls to Surprise 136-125 Road Win in Cleveland — December 19, 2025https://t.co/AmEPtYxXHt— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 20, 2025 GMKD Talks Goalies, Roster Freeze, Trades, Kantserov, Shaw Fundraiser, and Other Blackhawks Bullets #blackhawkshttps://t.co/i5EqhSr9U4— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 20, 2025 https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/12/20/relative-spending-luxury-tax-the-big-spenders-trade-values-and-other-cubs-bullets/
