Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts Expects More World Series Wins

Ricketts sets high bar for Cubs in 2026 and beyond, saying the team must win more championships.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts expressed high expectations for the team in 2026 and beyond, stating that the goal is to "win more World Series." Ricketts addressed the full Cubs team on the first day of spring training, reminding players to treat fans well and emphasizing that the team must execute and stay healthy to reach the playoffs. The Cubs are poised to be one of the best teams in baseball this season, and Ricketts is confident they can win their division and make a deep playoff run.

Why it matters

The Cubs have not won a World Series since 2016, and Ricketts is putting pressure on the team to return to championship contention. As the team's owner, Ricketts' high expectations reflect the organization's commitment to building a perennial winner and delivering more titles to the passionate Cubs fanbase.

The details

Ricketts and manager Craig Counsell addressed the full Cubs team on the first day of spring training, outlining the expectations for the season. Counsell emphasized the hard work required to build a championship-caliber team and the responsibilities that come with being part of something special. Ricketts reminded players to always treat Cubs fans well, as their performance means so much to the loyal fanbase. The Cubs enter the season with heightened scrutiny, as they are poised to be one of the best teams in the league after making the playoffs last year.

  • The Cubs begin spring training on February 16, 2026.

The players

Tom Ricketts

The chairman of the Chicago Cubs, who has owned the franchise since 2009 and is setting high expectations for the team to win more World Series titles.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs, who addressed the full team on the first day of spring training to outline the expectations and responsibilities for the players.

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What they’re saying

“We have to win more World Series. I mean, it's about winning. All this other stuff, it all leads to one thing, and that's about winning. We just have to put the kind of teams on the field that can be in the playoffs every year and get back on top.”

— Tom Ricketts, Chairman (Chicago Tribune)

“Obviously, we want to win the division — we should win the division. It's just a matter of executing, staying healthy and I think what we should be right there. You want to win the division for a lot of reasons, not just because it's aggravating not to, but you want to put yourself in the best position for the playoffs as well, so hopefully we'll execute against that plan and be there at the end of the season.”

— Tom Ricketts, Chairman (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Cubs will continue their spring training preparations and look to execute their plan to win the division and make a deep playoff run in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

As the Cubs' owner, Tom Ricketts is setting a high bar for the team, making it clear that anything short of winning multiple World Series titles will not be acceptable. This reflects the organization's commitment to building a perennial championship contender and delivering on the high expectations of the passionate Cubs fanbase.