The Cubs are still projected to be over the competitive balance tax threshold for 2024, though the final numbers won’t be known for a little while yet. You’d have a hard time convincing me it was anything other than a failure by the front office to be over by so little and still wind up falling short of the postseason with such an obviously flawed roster. Either spend more to buy some wins or avoid potentially handcuffing yourselves moving forward. The Cubs managed to do neither.
Not that it’ll matter if they can make the right moves this offseason to put them in a position to win 90 games and secure a playoff spot.