The Cubs are one of two teams without a guaranteed signing this offseason, and there’s a good chance their caution continues. By all accounts, the Cubs will have a chance at returning to National League prominence in 2020 only if they make significant strides internally, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times. On that front, there are definitely issues to address.
Star shortstop Javier Baez made the point clearly: “The biggest problem to fix? “I think everybody was being there for the team but at the same time for their own numbers.” Wittenmyer also provides a quote from new manager David Ross, who strikes a similar tone in saying, “I think we’ve got to let everybody talk about us like it use to be – not us talking about other people.”
Given the success of the Nationals’ last season, driven by a persistent narrative of clubhouse camaraderie, coupled with the clear morale questions at the heart of the Astros’ controversy heading into the season, soft skills are having a moment in MLB right now. The Cubs will give the 2020 season another test case. That is, if they can make the clubhouse adjustments the team has been talking about for two seasons now.
As has been the case for most of the offseason, however, the conversation never veers far from the grievance filed by Kris Bryant, per The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma. The Cubs continue to wait for a resolution.
President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein answered questions about the open case – as he has all offseason – at the outset of the Cubs’ Convention. Said Epstein, “Our role was to show up when they told us to show up, answer questions truthfully, which we did, and sit back and wait for a decision. There were a lot of documents and a lot of arguments involved in the case. We respect the role of the arbitrator. He’s gotta work through everything methodically until he’s confident in his decision. Then, he can move forward. It’s out of our control; we’re not going to worry about it. Whenever it happens, it happens.”
A ruling would theoretically free the Cubs to take final offers on a Bryant trade and consummate a deal, if there’s one out there to Epstein’s liking. Moving Bryant would get the Cubs under the luxury tax, clearly a benchmark they’d like to clear prior to the 2020 season.
That said, don’t expect the financial floodgates to open. Removing Bryant’s contract ducks the tax, but not enough to create space to sign, say, Nicholas Castellanos. Other than Castellanos, who took a definite liking to Wrigley Field last season, there aren’t a lot of free agents that make sense for the Cubs at this time. Not anymore. There’s certainly nobody available that comes close to matching Bryant in talent. There are other ways the Cubs could sneak under the tax that would be less harmless to their on-field product in 2020, so moving Bryant only makes sense if the return satisfies Epstein’s asking price.
For now, the waiting game continues on the Northside, much to the chagrin of the fanbase. Their inactivity is well-documented, addressed yesterday by MLBTR’s Anthony Franco here, but it remains one of the stories of the offseason. The only imaginable impact move left for the Cubs is dealing Bryant for a young collection of players that can help both now and in the future. Whether a team like the Braves or Diamondbacks pony up talent enough for Epstein to pull the trigger is the unknown variable that won’t come to light until after the resolution of the Bryant case.
Until then, as Epstein put it (per Sharma), “I think we’re realistic about it. It’s been a few years with some of these guys that we’ve tried to get something done. It hasn’t happened, but that doesn’t mean it can’t in the future. It’s really hard to predict the future. Sometimes you’re only one phone call away from signing a guy to a long-term contract. Sometimes you’re one phone call away from a deal. What’s most likely is the status quo.”
I just feel like there’s no way KB is going anywhere this season. No matter what the ruling is.
Bryant’s obviously disgruntled, and seems to be focused on himself at this point. Theo understands Bryant’s situation has become a distraction, and it’s in the best interest of the team to trade him before things start to get worse. They obviously don’t think Bryant’s is worth the $250MM+ deal Boras is seeking, so move on.
Spot on. Problem is cubs fans can’t handle the truth.
Says he was ill. Couldn’t talk to the press at Cubsfest.
However, he was there infecting everyone and shaking hands with fans.
I see the junior high Sox fan is back
He had the flu actually. He flew home to las Vegas to be with his pregnant wife. Who is also sick. He went to the cubs conversation because he loves the fans and loves being with the Cubs
I don’t get the impression that he’s all that disgruntled. From what I heard, the grievance was suggested to him by the MLBPA as an exploratory/precedential measure. It wasn’t even his idea. I’m sure it was encouraged by Boras as well. But Bryant has never publicly expressed any discontent as far as I’ve heard and he recently said he would like to be a cub for life.
I do think this whole ordeal has soured the relationship though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade him before the deadline this year or next offseason. I don’t think it will be done before Spring Training though.
There’s nothing that says he’s disgruntled. He filed a grievance because it’s business. He may get traded because it’s business. Nothing personal.
It was a business move, There is nothing to indicate he is disgruntled. Remember this was filed 4 years ago an yet he remained on the Cubs and being a great player and clubhouse guy. There is no reason that will not continue.
If Bryant is a Cub on opening day, then great, he can will only make the team better
Considering they never offered him anything its hard to see his worth. 230 over 9 years is alot.
Of the 5 in their core they’ll likely sign 4 of them. I think bryant unfortunately is odd man out. They have 3 years to gove them extensions.
The tax threshold resets next year. So that means Rizzo and Baez then Schwarber and Contreras. In between that time sign a pitcher or trade for one.
It’s not impossible but its improbable they sign everyone. Even though Bryant wants to stay with the cubs his entire career. As does Baez and Rizzo
rizzo can’t play his entire career in Chicago. he already played for the friars.
#factsmatter
This just in:
Bryant Gruntled.
I feel just the opposite, I’d be shocked if he plays the entire 2020 season as a cub
Cubs press announcement. No money to spend here. Ship is on fire and sinking fast!
I agree. Urgency will ramp up as the end of ‘21 approaches. After ‘21 most of their core becomes free agents. Gotta trade at least 2 guys to be able to sign the other 2 or 3.
Red Sox & Astros in very similar situations.
2 years of Bryant baez and Schwarber 3 years of Contreas and one with Rizzo they have plenty of time to extend them maybe not all but at least 3 of the 5. I think they’ll extend Baez rizzo and Contreas. The only way they keep KB is he becomes a free agent and they re-sign him. Rizzo is the oldest at 30 years old. Their window is open more than ever.. especially with the tax threshold resetting next year. They’ll have at least 35mil off the books. Unless jon lester has a cy young year I think he’ll retire.
I don’t necessarily disagree with any of what you’ve said but like Baez was asked at the lead of this article “What’s the biggest problem to fix?”. Gotta be the leadoff spot and who is that going to be? If they are planning on keeping Bryant (I would like them to trade Bryant once the grievance is settled and get a top flight younger lefty pitcher like Max Fried of the Braves and a couple of prospects), are they planning on having Bryant leadoff? I see Hoerner as being too unseasoned to take on the leadoff spot this early in his ML career. Who is it going to be? The lack of a legit leadoff hitter is a big reason why the Cubs offense has been under performing since Fowler left in FA. Look at the last few champions, the Nats had Turner, the Red Sox had Betts, the Astros (benefiting from cheating or not) had Springer. Before that, the Cubs had Fowler. How can Theo and company not address this issue? It’s staring them square in the face.
3
3 years is a long time in baseball. No dynasty here, time to change direction. Not getting the return on what they spend on starting pitching. Time to go young and trade all 5 starters. Keep Bryant, if he’s winning he’ll be happy.
Yes, 1 WS win doesn’t come anywhere close to a dynasty.
Yes dynasty teams include royals no wait they won only one , Astros nope Red Sox nope. With free agency windows are opened all the time. Yankees is closed until they throw $324 million at cole. Strasburg’s arm won’t hold up and sherzer is getting over the hill . Nationals lost Rendon . No dynasty for them either . They only give out one World Series a year . Dodgers and Yankees still waiting
The dynasty tag was applied to the Cubs around 15 , 16 by writers and fans alike and rightly so, to be in this position 3 years later is underachieving. They were in a position to create a dynasty and didn’t, that’s the point.
I would disagree that the labeling of them as a dynasty was “rightly so”. One championship does not make a dynasty. it doesn’t even pique the conversation. they were a very good team in 15 and 16, but not even sniffing dynasty level. that word gets diluted by fans and writers because it attracts attention. the most recent team that you can even consider a dynasty would be the late 90s Yankees. there have been a ton of great teams, but not one dynasty since. the giants of the early 201x’s doesn’t count either. you can’t sprinkle missed playoff berths in between championships and be considered consistent enough to be called a dynasty. it’s just not reality. if the Cubs would have sustained their temporary greatness through 2018 or 2019 with consistently winning the division and winning multiple championships, then yes, they would be a dynasty. at this point it’s more realistic to say they caught lightning in a bottle and fell back to the same cub mediocrity rather quickly. potential does not equal results.
I count the Giants as a dynasty…..3 WS in 5 years. Yes our views on dynasties differ maybe we can agree that there was a ‘ming’ dynasty and they made nice vases.
Shows how difficult it is in baseball. I couple questionable moves and can ruin that which is what happened. Still a good run in any case.,
Baltimore Ravens were proclaimed dynasty too . They lost it happens. Just because “experts” proclaim a team a dynasty doesn’t make it so. Aren’t the Yankees and Dodgers proclaimed dynasty every year and still don’t win it? Baseball is a different beast . Not like Warriors who have 5 starters . Giants only dynasty winning 3. Weren’t Astros dynasty ? How is that going now? This open and closed window talk is ridiculous. Cubs window is closed. Cubs sign cole Strasburg rendon wheeler trade for lindor trout . Dynasty open window !
3 WS in 5 years is a dynasty (as much as this pains me to admit as a Dodgers fan). Those Giants teams were dominant in the years they won.
“in the years they won” …. since they spread out over a couple missed playoff years id say they weren’t consistent enough to be a dynasty. one of those years was 10 games below 500. dynasties don’t go under 500, plain and simple
Red Sox won 4 and Giants won 3 World Series championships in the same time frame the Yankees won exactly 1.
They had dominated pitching 4 of 8 of their position players like Marco scutaro and Aubrey Huff were scrubs. Connie Gillespie got lucky in 2016 with a walk off home run. He’s punch and Judy hitter too. Posey Sandoval and belt and Crawford plus madbum were the heart and sole of their run.
They also had a white Japanese player. Travis ishikawa
Who cares about not being considered a “dynasty” at this point in time? How about the Cubs winning a second championship before the current core ages out? Theo needs to be aggressive in making a few trades to address the leadoff spot and improving the rotation but instead he’s sitting on his hands. Starting that process by trading Bryant could get this team there. We’ll see if they make any big moves once the Bryant ruling comes down. If they don’t make any significant moves, we’re likely to see a disappointing season and another of the prime years of Baez, Rizzo, Contreras, Schwarber wasted.
the window isnt even closed yet
Yeah but the gaps so small you can’t fit through.
The white sox window is closed and was never open
Watch ur fingers.
Slammed shut!!
The cat can still get through…
“the window isnt even closed yet”
It was more of a porthole, really.
The Cubs COULD have been a dynasty were it not for the horrific free agent signings that occurred after they won the WS. Epstein has to shoulder that burden. Now the team is squarely at a crossroads, and Epstein understands that resetting the luxury tax is at least achievable and in their control. I think Bryant will be gone within 2 weeks of the conclusion of the grievance.
You’re spot on Solaris. Free agents, more times than not, end up sinking a team. Yet fans frequently bash their teams when they don’t sign free agents.
Such a sad state of affairs for a team that was a dynasty in the making
Their organization seems like a much greater mess than is being consistently reported. Epstein’s leadership deserves increasingly serious scrutiny now—not just stock phrases praising his 2 WS titles with teams that hadn’t had them in ages.
In reality they traded the wrong players putting them here. Imagine having Torres and Jimenez right now. Yeah yeah maybe they wouldn’t have won the WS or maybe they would have if they traded other players.
The Eloy trade was clearly a bust but there’s no way they would’ve won without Chapman. It’d obviously be great to have Torres right now but there’s no guarantee we’d win a title, even with both him and Eloy.
Does not matter how great Torres is for the Yankees and even if inducted to the HOF one day, the trade was worth it.
You will never see a lopsided trade like that again, but Theo wanted to be the guy who broke the curse and he did
Bryant can’t stay regardless of the ruling. After all the talk his value will be based on years of control. He has to go to get under the salary cap. The owner wants it that way so that’s how it has to be!
Sports trac has them 1.6 million over cap. They don’t need to trade Bryant to get under
Good article on the Cubs and CBT penalties. It can be much more than $7 million.
bleachernation.com/cubs/2019/12/19/why-the-chicago…
Trading Quintana reasonable 10.5 million contract will get the same results.
Anyhow if the team goes into the deadline in first, the FO likely abandons reseting the tax instead
Attach a lottery ticket prospect or 2 to Delasco to a rebuilding team…
For the $2.5-3.5 mil, the prospect(s) wouldn’t even need to be blue chip.
Move Darvish for anything and reallocate that money to Bryant. Lester comes off the books at the end of the season and that should give them some flexibility. If they have to move someone Schwarber is the obvious player. He could return you 2 players.
Why move Darvish? He and Hendricks are their top two – and both are under team control for a few more years. Both are definitely earning their money. If they move anyone, it’ll be a position player – and maybe Quintana.
How did Darvish earn his money with a half of a good season out of 2 at $20 million per year?
Because established starters are going for more than that now. Have you seen the contracts doled out this offseason?
Earning the $ it is different than being paid the $. He has not established anything in Chicago.
First year he was injured, it happens. Second year he was a very good pitcher. You can do a lot worse than Darvish and Hendricks 1-2.
3rd place in the NL Central is pretty bad.
He was outstanding in the second half of last season. He “earned” it. But that’s not really the point is it? Because regardless, starting pitching is much more expensive, period.
It sounds like you are in denial. It would be more prudent to trade someone who may not be happy with his situation and will generate a bigger return rather than darvish and schwarber. Time to get rid of your Bryant jersey.
What’s Bryant, and his $40 MM, really gonna get you? Something that keeps the team competitive over that time? Riley and Enciarte? As a fellow fan, I say keep him and go hard…
I agree. Trading Bryant is not going to make them better in the next two years. Maybe 3-4-5 years down the road, maybe.
Except Bryant will leave and if you don’t trade him you won’t get anything out of him!
You get two more years and a comp pick.
I 100% agree
Dangler should try watching a game sometime. Bat crap crazy ideas won’t help.
Interesting that we are getting a cubs article updating the world on the state of the team. Are we going to get one for every team? Can you do the Marlins next?
The state of the White Sox is:
“Unbeatable”!
Well said Chi Sox—-considering they don’t play a game for another couple months.
lol lol lol lol lol.
It’s Cubs Convention weekend. There will be articles.
I still think that Bryant, Rizzo, Baez, Contreras and Schwarber is still a viable championship core. What’s killed them, among other things, has been their lack of an effective lead off man. Fowler was the straw that stirred that drink in 15 and 16 and for whatever reason, they’ve failed to address it ever since. That and their inability to draft high level young pitching. They’ve got some pretty good talent in the farm, but it’s for the most part, in the lower minors. On top of that, they have a billionaire, poor-mouthing owner, who’s used up every ounce of good will he earned from several years ago. You can’t really call him cheap because of their payroll, but cap or no cap, closing down the bank a year or 2 from losing that core, is just ridiculous.
Pitching wins championship! The Cubs lack pitching right now. Lester’s age has been showing. Darvish has his ups and downs. Hendricks and Quintana no more than a number 3 starters.
Obviously, pitching matters. But when that offense was rolling a couple of years ago, there wasn’t nearly as much pressure on the pitching as there is now. They need another reliable starter and more BP help, but they really need a high OBP lead off man to jump start that line up.
Stfu with the lead off man bs. How many times a game does this lead off man bat lead off? What has killed them is the lack of developed pitching. Heyward was a bad move for big $ and they didn’t develop any pitching. You can’t pay$20 mil plus per starter. The lead off stuff is garbage.
Dumb.
I use to like the cubs til I found this site and see how ungrateful cubs fans are and how unbelievably unrealistic they are. They are going to crash and burn and every second Bryant stays on the team the more turmoil and discord will be in the clubhouse. I’m gonna relish every minute of it. So stay active cubs fans.
Cool. Based on your comments I am assuming you are a white Sox troll with 3-4 accounts.
If any Cubs’ fan thinks the Cubs are moving Darvish don’t understand he is only here to attract the Japanese once the Cubs’ network comes into effect. If anyone is going to be moved it is going to be Bryant.
Lol. Or he is there because he is the best pitcher on their staff.
The Cubs have a great core and need to strike while the iron is still hot. The division is wide open with no clear favorite. Bring back Castanellos and trade some farm pieces for a solid starter and some bullpen help. The future is now.
The Cubs are over the tax threshold. They can’t afford anyone else. They need to trade a few pieces, such as Quintana. I also say trade Bryant to a team like the Rangers and get several good pieces you can add to a team that can’t afford anything other than the league minimum. It may not be what cubs fans want but the Cubs can win a Championship without Bryant. They also need to start getting their money situation under control.
I’m as budget conscious as anybody, but we’re talking about an owner that paid $825 million for a team that according to Forbes, is now worth $3.2 billon. And they were worth multiple billions before they even became owners. They have a year or 2 left before they lose that core and to not spend now, while the window is open, is a huge mistake.
The Cubs don’t have any more money to spend and they definitely don’t have a farm system.
Only thing the Cubs will be remembered by is the century long joke between championships –
I read about “dynasty” in above comments and literally almost passed out from laughing so hard.
Good luck with your $200 mil plus payroll without making the playoffs – If I was a Cubs fan, I would have my fingers crossed that you would trade every valuable piece that you could so that you could possibly contend Within the next 10 years
This is a stale team. Have to change pieces, if not now, at deadline. Anything is better than what they have assembled now. Not that hard to see.
I wonder who the other team with no guaranteed deals is… ?
I have read more this year about getting under the luxury tax than winning games. Seems like the goal for next year has more to do with saving money than it does winning ball games. Kind of lame.
I wonder what the fall out would be if the organizations concern happens to coincide with their window of contention.
I’ve read a lot of about the Cubs lack of Dexter Fowler. He wasn’t with the Cubs in 2017 and they went to the NLCS. If they lack of something, I should remind you how good Lackey was in 2016 for the Cubs. He provided leadership, was a workhorse and had lots of adrenaline. Also the lacking ok a player leadership David Ross provided.Maybe either Lackey’s or Ross’ numbers that year may not show it, but IMHO Lester nowadays may fill that spot ok Lackey, but the Cubs are late to find the type of pitcher Lester was in 2016 to fill that particular spot.
I’ve read a lot of about the Cubs lack of Dexter Fowler. Yes he is missed, but he wasn’t with the Cubs in 2017 and they went to the NLCS. If they lack of something, I should remind you how good John Lackey was in 2016 for the Cubs. He provided leadership, was a workhorse and had lots of adrenaline. Also the lacking of a player leadership David Ross provided which hasn’t been filled yet. Maybe either Lackey’s or Ross’ numbers that year may not show it, but IMHO Lester nowadays may fill that spot of Lackey, but the Cubs are late to trade for a similar pitcher Lester was in 2016 to fill that particular spot.
Right now, it looks like Comcast is playing hardball w/ Marquee Sports Network (Operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) and 1.5 Million Chicagoland Cubs fans will have to change carriers or VPN it to watch their boys.
Can the cubs talk please end. This team is going nowhere. Aging talent, terrible front office that has a one and done mind, Bad contracts and last year the manger that lead the team to a World Series victory for the first time in like a million years gets canned. Jimmeny kricketts is not the problem. All that money spent last year to finish 3rd and no attempts this year to put lipstick on this $200 million dollar plus team that will finish 4th at best this year. Please no more talk of the cubs. There are soooo many more teams in baseball that are doing things but for some reason we have to keep hearing about the cubs.
Joe didn’t get canned, his contract was up.
The Cubs organization rode the wave of goodwill after their WS to celebrity status and soon forgot about baseball.
What will they do with the open rotation spot? Some combination of Chatwood, Cotton, or Mills?
It irks me that Ricketts is being so tight with the $$$ when being over the cap is relatively insignificant, about $2 mil where they currently stand. They will not win the division staying pat. Too many K’s, poor situational hitting, terrible hitting with runners on base, aging and inconsistent starting pitching, poor bullpen, bad baserunning, mediocre defense were all weaknesses last year. That’s a lot of flaws that won’t be corrected without some major changes. Bryant has to go to fill some holes including CF, 2B, quality leadoff hitter. Still leaves a hole at 3B and doesn’t help the pitching issues. I’d see what Schwarber could bring. Contreras shouldn’t go anywhere given his cheap salary. St. Louis will be stronger as well as the Reds. Unfortunately, Cubs are looking like a 3rd or 4th place team in the Central. Very sad.
Braves could send Bryse Wilson, Jeremy Walker and a PTBNL to the Cubs for Kris Bryant. If Cubs win grievance the PTBNL is Touki Toussaint, if not the PTBNL is Chris Rusin or Corbin Clouse. Wilson is Braves #6 and Walker pitched bullpen ERA of 1.93 in 2019-6gms,9.1inn.
LOL oh yea please send the worst ya got!
Swing and a miss on the pipe dream considering Nats already said they’d throw Kieboom and Rutledge for Bryant