Chicago Cubs Lose 'Trailblazer' Coach To New York Mets
The Chicago Cubs' coaching staff has undergone some changes since their 2025 MLB season concluded.
For one, Alex Smith, who had been with the Cubs since 2015, has left the franchise to become the Detroit Tigers' vice president of baseball strategy. While Smith might not be the most recognizable name for fans, the sentiment around him was that he had a keen eye and attention to detail. And people like that are never ideal to lose.
There have also been several reports about Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty being linked to several managerial vacancies across the league. Some of these vacancies that Flaherty has been connected to (such as the Baltimore Orioles) have since been filled by somebody else, but others (like the San Diego Padres) are still searching for their next manager. Therefore, there's still a chance that Flaherty won't be in the Cubs' dugout come 2026.
News broke on November 1 that another coach in the Cubs' organization will now be on the move.
Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Rachel Folden Leaves Cubs Role to Join New York Mets
Des Moines Register reporter Tommy Birch made a November 1 X post that read, "Rachel Folden announces that she’s joining the New York Mets organization. Folden spent last season as a hitting coach for the @IowaCubs. A true trailblazer for women in baseball."
Folden joined the Cubs' organization in 2019 as a lead hitting lab tech and fourth coach for the Cubs' Arizona Fall League team, the Mesa Solar Sox. Since then, Folden worked her way up the organization and eventually settled in as a hitting coach for the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate.
All indications are that Folden will be sorely missed among the franchise, as several reporters and members of the organization have shared strong messages about her in the wake of this news.
Greg Huss, who is the host of a podcast about everything Cubs-related, made an X post that read, "Massive blow to the Cubs organization. Folden’s fingerprints are everywhere you look here."
Another Cubs podcast host, Caleb Webb, wrote in an X post, "Ah man, this is a big loss of the cubs organization. @rachelfolden25 is one of the best hitting minds for player development in the game. Best of luck, Rachel! Will always root for you! We Are…!"
Others are noting that it's only a matter of time before Folden is on a big league team's coaching staff. While that team seemed likely to be the Cubs, that is no longer the case.
Chicago Cubs predicted to replace Kyle Tucker with projected $182 million Boston Red Sox superstar
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a 92-70 season that saw them finish second place in the National League Central Division behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who were 97-65. After defeating the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round, Chicago fell to the Brewers 3-2 in their five-game NLDS series, ending their season.
Now that the World Series is over, the club and its fans has their eyes completely set on preparing for the 2026 MLB season in hopes that they can improve their roster, make it back to the postseason, and win another title themselves.
In order to do that, some tough decisions will need to be made and some serious money will need to be spent.
The Chicago Cubs are predicted to replace Kyle Tucker with Alex Bregman
Sep 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox third base Alex Bregman (2) hits a single during the first inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Recently, Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker has his number one MLB free agent of the offseason. Per Bowden, it is expected that, despite his injuries in 2025, Tucker will command a contract worth over $400 million.
In other words, Chicago, who is not likely to hand out that kind of contract, will need to find a way to replace a player who hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases.
Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib suggests that they do so by signing third baseman Alex Bregman, who Bowden suggests will command a $182 million contract over six years:
“The guess here is that the Cubs make a strong push for Alex Bregman. The Cubs identified Bregman as the piece last offseason that could transition them from being a good team into a great team. They weren’t wrong, but the problem was that the Cubs made a pursuit of Bregman a priority far too late in the offseason. The Boston Red Sox likely will make a strong push to bring Bregman back, but the Cubs being involved shouldn’t be that surprising.”
Playing for the Boston Red Sox last season, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI. He, like Tucker, also dealt with injuries last season that limited his production.
The thought of replacing Tucker, an outfielder, with Bregman, a third baseman, make sense since the Cubs already have Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki as their starting outfielders.
The problem, though, is that Bregman will be highly sought after in free agency, and the Cubs may get into a bidding war for his services.
