The 2025 Chicago Cubs season was the 154th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 150th in the National League, and the Cubs' 110th season at Wrigley Field. They are members of Major League Baseball's National League Central division. The Cubs began the season on March 18 with a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB Tokyo Series. They finished the regular season on September 28 with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs started the season 37–22, their best start since their 2016 World Series-winning season. On September 17, the Cubs clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 and their first playoff appearance in a non-shortened season since 2018 after sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers clinched the NL West division with a win on September 25, assuring that the Cubs would face the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series. They finished the regular season 92–70, five games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the division.
In the Wild Card Series, the Cubs won their first playoff series since 2017 by defeating the Padres in three games. As a result, they advanced to the Division Series where they played the top-seeded Brewers in the first I-94 rivalry matchup in the postseason history, losing the series 3–2.
The Chicago Cubs drew an average home attendance of 37,259, the 6th-highest of all MLB teams.https://www.espn.com/mlb/attendance/_/year/2025
Previous season The Cubs finished the 2024 season 83–79 to finish in a tie for second place in the NL Central division, 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. It marked the fourth consecutive season where they did not make the playoffs.
Offseason
Coaching changes On October 1, 2024, the Cubs fired hitting coach Jim Adduci, first base coach Mike Napoli, and bullpen coach Darren Holmes. On November 2, the team announced that they had promoted the team's Minor League hitting instructor, Dustin Kelly, to hitting coach. On December 6, the Cubs named Jose Javier the team's first base coach. On December 9, the team announced Mark Strittmatter would be the bullpen coach. They also named Quintin Berry third base coach and Casey Jacobson as assistant pitching coach.
Transactions October 2024 Activated RHP Jorge López and LHP Jordan Wicks from the 15-day injured list. Recalled RHP Daniel Palencia, OF Alexander Canario, C Caleb Knight, RHP Jack Neely, RHP Jimmy Herget, and 1B Matt Mervis from Iowa Cubs. Recalled RHP Michael Arias, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP Trey Wingenter, and IF Miles Mastrobuoni from ACL Cubs.Sent C Caleb Knight outright to Iowa. RHPs Kyle Hendricks and Jorge López elected free agency. Source
November 2024 Activated RHP Ben Brown, RHP Yency Almonte, IF Nick Madrigal, RHP Adbert Alzolay, RHP Colten Brewer, RHP Julian Merryweather, LHP Luke Little, and OF Brennen Davis from the 60-day injured list. Designated RHP Jimmy Herget for assignment. Claimed LHP Rob Zastryzny off waivers from Milwaukee Brewers.Sent RHP Enoli Paredes and RHP Colten Brewer outright to Iowa. C Christian Bethancourt and LHP Drew Smyly elected free agency. Designated RHP Adbert Alzolay and OF Brennen Davis for assignment. Selected the contract of 3B Benjamin Cowles from Knoxville Smokies. Selected the contract of OF Owen Caissie from Iowa.Designated RHP Trey Wingenter and IF Patrick Wisdom for assignment. Traded OF Alfonsin Rosario to Cleveland Guardians for RHP Eli Morgan. Traded cash to Los Angeles Angels for C Matt Thaiss.OF Mike Tauchman, RHP Adbert Alzolay, RHP Trey Wingenter, IF Patrick Wisdom, IF Nick Madrigal, and OF Brennen Davis elected free agency.Signed free agent RHP Phil Bickford to a minor league contract. Source
December 2024 Signed free agent LHP Matthew Boyd.Purchased the contract of IF Gage Workman from Detroit Tigers in Rule 5 draft.Traded IF Isaac Paredes, RHP Hayden Wesneski, and IF Cam Smith to Houston Astros for OF Kyle Tucker. Signed free agent C Carson Kelly. Signed RHP Luis Mata to a minor league contract.Signed Free agent RHP Anhuar Garcia to a minor league contract.Signed free agents LHP Darlin Ventura, OF Jahni McPhee, RHPs Jubrayker Salaya, Jose Urena, Geovanny Villarroel, and Anthony Feliz to minor league contracts.Traded Cody Bellinger to New York Yankees for RHP Cody Poteet. Traded C Matt Thaiss to Chicago White Sox for cash. Signed free agent C Carlos Pérez to a minor league contract.Traded 1B Matt Mervis to Miami Marlins for IF Vidal Bruján.Signed free agent LHP Caleb Thielbar Source
January 2025 Signed free agent Caleb Knight to a minor league contract.Signed free agent RHP Ben Heller to a minor league contract.Traded cash to Texas Rangers for RHP Matt Festa. Designated IF Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment.Designated RHP Michael Arias for assignment.Signed free agent RHP Colin Rea.Traded Miles Mastrobuoni to Seattle Mariners for cash.Traded RHP Michael Arias to New York Yankees for cash. Signed free agent SS Julio Acosta, C Jose Carrillo, OF Jeury Ramirez, SS Alexander Herrera, LHP Angel Sanmartin, RHP Erick Hernandez, SS Juan Tomas, RHP Salvador Burgos, SS Juan Cabada, OF Fernando Lara, P Roni Dias, RHP Amilkar Romero, SS Wilfri De La Cruz, SS Luis Santos, C Victor Garcia, OF Saul Ramirez, LHP Angel Gonzalez, OF Luis Sanchez, RHP Johansel Javier, C Abraham Sanchez, OF Breyner Figuereo, RHP Ariel Ramos, SS Luis Abreu, LHP Carlos Barrientos, LHP Frankelly Desis, SS Luis Maldonado, RHP Rafael Merchan, RHP Chaily Ramirez, RHP Jider Corpas, SS Elerick Gomez, and OF Freiker Betencourt to minor league contracts.Signed free agent SS Luis Santos to a minor league contract.Signed free agent RHP Trevor Richards and C Reese McGuire to minor league contracts.Traded RHP Juan Bello to Houston Astros for RHP Ryan Pressly. Signed free agent IF Jon Berti.Assigned RHP Brad Keller to Chicago Cubs.Traded SS Luis Vazquez to Baltimore Orioles for cash. Source
February 2025 Sent RHP Matt Festa outright to Iowa.Traded a player to be named later to Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP Ryan Brasier. Signed free agent RHP A.J. Puckett to a minor league contract. Designated LHP Rob Zastryzny for assignment.Invited non-roster C Carlos Pérez, 2B James Triantos, RHP Brandon Birdsell, CF Brett Bateman, RHP Ben Heller, RHP Phil Bickford, RHP Brooks Kriske, RHP Antonio Santos, 2B Matt Shaw, RHP Cade Horton, 3B Jonathon Long, LHP Riley Martin, C Moisás Ballesteros, LF Christian Franklin, C Reese McGuire, C Pablo Aliendo, and RHP Trevor Richards to spring training. Signed free agent LHP Brandon Hughes and 2B Nicky Lopez to minor league contracts and invited to spring training.Signed free agent RHP Brayden Spears to a minor league contract.Sent LHP Rob Zastryzny outright to Iowa.Signed free agent IF Dixon Machado to a minor league contract.Signed free agent IF Jaylen Palmer to a minor league contract.Signed free agent IF Justin Turner. Designated OF Alexander Canario for assignment. Assigned LF Christian Olivo, RHP Kenten Egbert, RHP Nolan Clenney, RF Ivan Brethowr, SS Dixon Machado, RHP Cayne Ueckert, RHP Sam Armstrong, 3B Chase Strumpf, SS Reginald Preciado, RF Parker Chavers, and RHP Zac Leigh to Chicago Cubs.OF Pete Crow-Armstrong changed number to 4. Assigned 1B Haydn McGeary assigned to Chicago Cubs, RHP Robert Kwiatkowski, 2B Hayden Cantrelle, RHP A.J. Puckett, RHP Wil Jensen, C Casey Opitz RHP Brad Deppermann, RHP Nick Hull, and RHP Tyler Santana toChicago Cubs.Assigned SS Cristian Hernandez assigned to Chicago Cubs, RHP Connor Schultz, C Miguel Pabo, LHP Mitchell Tyranski, 3B BJ Murray Jr., and RHP Chris Kachmar to Chicago Cubs.Assigned CF Greg Allen to Chicago Cubs.Signed free agent OF Travis Jankowski to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.Traded OF Alexander Canario to New York Mets. Assigned RHP Yovanny Cabrera to Chicago Cubs.Optioned OF Owen Caissie to Iowa. Assigned SS Eriandys Ramon to Chicago Cubs.Assigned OF Jordan Nwogu and SS Jose Escobar to Chicago Cubs.Assigned RHP Connor Noland, C Ariel Armas, 1B Edgar Alvarez, SS Angel Cepeda, and C Ethan Hearn to Chicago Cubs. Source
March 2025 Optioned RHP Cody Poteet, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP Jack Neely, and RHP Caleb Kilian to Iowa. Assigned LHP Jeff Belge, OF Felix Stevens, LF Joan Delgado, SS Yahil Melendez, SS Ed Howard, LF Andy Garriola, and SS Ty Southisene to Chicago Cubs.Released LHP Jeff Beige.Signed free agent RHP Yency Almonte to a minor league contract.Signed free agent RHPs Jackson Kirkpatrick and RHP Ethan Bell to minor league contracts.Assigned RHP Sam Thoresen to Chicago CubsOptioned LHP Luke Little and RHP Ethan Roberts to Iowa.Optioned IF Ben Cowles to Iowa.Assigned RF Darius Hill to Chicago Cubs.Assigned RHP Yenrri Rojas, C Caleb Knight, and RHP Carlo Reyes to Chicago Cubs.Released OF Travis Jankowski. Optioned OF Kevin Alcántara to Iowa.Assigned RHP Joe Nahas and LHP Chase Watkins to Chicago Cubs.Assigned 1B William Simoneit and RHP Ben Johnson to Chicago Cubs.Assigned RF Rafael Morel, C Carter Trice, and SS Pedro Ramirez to Chicago Cubs. Source
Regular season
Opening Day starters Tuesday, March 18, 2025, vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome Name Pos. Ian Happ LF Seiya Suzuki DH Kyle Tucker RF Michael Busch 1B Matt Shaw 3B Dansby Swanson SS Pete Crow-Armstrong CF Miguel Amaya C Jon Berti 2B Shota Imanaga P
Game log
Legend Cubs win Cubs loss Postponement Clinched playoff spotBoldCubs team member
|-style=background:#fbb;" | 1 || March 18 || Dodgers* || 1–4 || Yamamoto (1–0) || Brown (0–1) || Scott (1) || 42,365 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb;" | 2 || March 19 || Dodgers* || 3–6 || Knack (1–0) || Steele (0–1) || Vesia (1) || 42,367 || 0–2 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || March 27 || @ Diamondbacks || 10–6 || Steele (1–1) || Gallen (0–1) || — || 49,070 || 1–2 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || March 28 || @ Diamondbacks || 1–8 || Kelly (1–0) || Taillon (0–1) || — || 37,449 || 1–3 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || March 29 || @ Diamondbacks || 4–3 || Imanaga (1–0) || Pfaadt (0–1) || Pressly (1) || 36,407 || 2–3 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || March 30 || @ Diamondbacks || 6–10 || Martínez (1–0) || Morgan (0–1) || — || 39,145 || 2–4 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 7 || March 31 || @ Athletics || 18–3 || Brown (1–1) || Estes (0–1) || Rea (1) || 12,192 || 3–4 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 1 || @ Athletics || 7–4 || Steele (2–1) || Severino (0–1) || Pressly (2) || 10,095 || 4–4 || W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 2 || @ Athletics || 10–2 || Taillon (1–1) || Springs (1–1) || — || 9,342 || 5–4 || W3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 4 || Padres || 3–1 || Imanaga (2–0) || Vásquez (0–1) || Pressly (3) || 40,244 || 6–4 || W4 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 5 || Padres || 7–1 || Boyd (1–0) || Pivetta (1–1) || — || 35,391 || 7–4 || W5 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 6 || Padres || 7–8 || Adam (2–0) || Pressly (0–1) || Suárez (4) || 33,941 || 7–5 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 7 || Rangers || 7–0 || Steele (3–1) || Eovaldi (1–1) || — || 27,017 || 8–5 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 8 || Rangers || 10–6 || Hodge (1–0) || Martin (0–1) || — || 27,694 || 9–5 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 9 || Rangers || 2–6 || Mahle (2–0) || Imanaga (2–1) || — || 23,590 || 9–6 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 11 || @ Dodgers || 0–3 || Yamamoto (2–1) || Boyd (1–1) || Scott (4) || 53,933 || 9–7 || L2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 12 || @ Dodgers || 16–0 || Brown (2–1) || Sasaki (0–1) || — || 53,887 || 10–7 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 18 || April 13 || @ Dodgers || 4–2 || Roberts (1–0) || Treinen (0–2) || Pressly (4) || 50,899 || 11–7 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 14 || @ Padres || 4–10 || Morejón (1–0) || Pearson (0–1) || — || 47,078 || 11–8 || L1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 15 || @ Padres || 2–1 || Pressly (1–1) || Matsui (0–1) || Thielbar (1) || 42,492 || 12–8 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;"