Jed Hoyer on the Cubs' struggles: 'The answers have to come from within'

CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is as perplexed as anyone by his team’s power outage and offensive struggles.

Ahead of the Cubs hosting the Giants on Monday evening at Wrigley Field, Hoyer spoke about his club’s downward spiral. A main theme of it was the Cubs’ inconsistent offense. As it turned out, the Cubs offense produced in a 7-6 loss to the Giants, only to see closer Hector Neris blow a save by allowing a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth. The loss dropped Chicago to 34-39.

“The thing that has haunted us the most is our situational lack of hitting,” Hoyer said. “What are we hitting, .179 with runners in scoring position during the last 46 games? We have been poor across the board, but you have to get hits in key spots. In our last series, as a microcosm, we had multiple chances where a single tied it or a single would have won the game. We have not gotten those hits. You know intellectually those things are going to come. You know we are going to get better in those situations, but it's very difficult when you are going through it.”

The Cubs are averaging 4.16 runs per game this season, which ranks 20th in MLB. That’s a significant decrease from 2023, when they averaged 5.06 runs, which ranked sixth in baseball.

It’s worth noting that scoring is down in MLB year-over-year. Teams are averaging 4.35 runs per game in 2024 after that figure checked in at 4.62 in 2023. But the Cubs’ troubles extend beyond the league-wide decrease.

“If you look around baseball, the offensive numbers are down so much,” Hoyer said. “To be candid, all I care about is if our club is hitting. But I will say when I talk to people around the game, there is a frustration with offense in general. So, I know we are not alone in our struggles, but it doesn't matter. We must solve this problem right here. During these 46 games, our offense is right at the bottom. We must figure this out ourselves. There is no reason to believe this team has forgotten to hit. We can't put that kind of pressure on the bullpen. We have played 30 one-run games already.”

Hoyer believes the solution to the Cubs’ woes is internal, for the most part.

"There is a point in the season when you look outside for answers,” Hoyer said. "A 6-win (WAR) player is worth a win a month, and the collective is worth so much more than that. Collectively, this group has failed to produce these last 46 games. We had a really good offense last year and a really good offense in April. Since then, we have not hit, period. This group is going to have to figure this out. That doesn't mean there won't be additions, but the answers have to come from within.”

While sharing that message, Hoyer also acknowledged that his front office is working the phones each day as Cubs scouts search for possible additions on the trade market.

“When I say the solutions are within, that doesn't mean I am not on the phone all the time with other executives looking for solutions,” Hoyer said. “I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't doing that. I am also realistic about what the trade market is and the opportunities. Yes, if there was the right offensive player to come in and potentially spark us, we would absolutely look into that. That is very difficult to find this time of year.”

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine .