After losing seasons in both 2021 and 2022, the Cubs finished 83-79 this year, representing some progress. Unfortunately for Wrigleyville, that record left the team one game behind the Diamondbacks for the last NL wild card slot, as a 5-12 slide in the Cubs’ last 17 games quickly muddied what seemed like a clear path to the playoffs a few weeks ago.
As such, team chairman Tom Ricketts was measured in his praise when speaking with reporters (including The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and The Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro) today. While “there was a lot of excitement and the organizational health is as strong as it’s been in a long, long time,” Ricketts also said “I don’t think that we want to start calling seasons we don’t make the playoffs good seasons. That’s a consolation prize and we don’t play for consolation prizes.”
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer recently gave manager David Ross a public vote of confidence, seemingly confirming that Ross would return for 2024 (the final guaranteed year of the skipper’s contract). The odds of Ross continuing with the team grew even stronger today when Ricketts also credited the manager’s work.
“I think Rossy did a great job. He creates a great clubhouse culture, the players love playing for him,” Ricketts said. “He keeps a steady, balanced approach game in and game out, that you need over the course of 162 games.” Specifically citing the full-season aspect in a year when the Cubs started with a 26-36 record, Ricketts noted that “when the team got down, way below .500 and it looked like the season was over, he didn’t let it go. He got the guys back and playing hard. We got to here. He was a big part of that.”
Another Wrigleyville staple also return in 2024, as Ricketts said “at this point I would see [Kyle Hendricks] coming back,” though the chairman said Hoyer would ultimately be making the decision. Chicago holds a $16MM club option ($1.5MM buyout) on Hendricks for next season, and it seemed like Hendricks was on the decline after down years in both 2021 and 2022. However, the veteran righty bounced back nicely from an injury-shortened 2022 to post a 3.74 ERA over 137 innings this year, increasingly his chances of getting that option exercised. Even if Marcus Stroman doesn’t opt out of the final year of his contract, retaining Hendricks might still make sense to bolster the rotation depth.
The rest of Chicago’s payroll picture will naturally factor into the $14.5MM decision on Hendricks. Ricketts again stated that Hoyer is calling the shots on player personnel, but with an Opening Day payroll of roughly $184.2MM last March, Ricketts said “I think we’ll stay at those levels” for 2024, and “we’ll see where that shakes out” in terms of whether or not the Cubs would be willing to boost spending closing to the $237MM luxury tax line.
The Cubs’ rebuilding efforts of the previous two seasons helped add a lot of younger talent into the system, which Ricketts cited as another (and perhaps wiser) method of improving the Major League roster. “We’ve got a lot of good young players and hopefully some will be ready to go next year so we can bring homegrown talent to supplement the guys we have out there,” Ricketts said.
“That’s the ultimate way you maintain consistency and try to stay in the playoff hunt for years to come…The key to consistency is to not build a one-year super team, but to try to get to the playoffs as often as possible. You do that by finding guys that you like, giving them extensions, solidifying your core and then trying to supplement them with guys from your system and the occasional free agent. That’s going to be our strategy going forward.”
It isn’t as if Ricketts and Hoyer have shied away from larger investments, such as signing Dansby Swanson, Seiya Suzuki, or Jameson Taillon, or in locking up Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ through 2026 on contract extensions. However, should Stroman opt out and Cody Bellinger leave in free agency, that is automatically two big holes that need to be addressed, in addition to the Cubs’ other roster needs.
At the very least, Ricketts’ comment seemingly indicates that the Cubs will make a measured effort at best to re-sign Bellinger, who figures to land one of the winter’s biggest contracts. It could be that the front office and ownership are willing to spend a bit bigger now that the Cubs have gotten over the .500 hump and back into playoff contention, though it may take a particular target (i.e. Swanson last winter) to really move the organization to make a splash.
“That’s a consolation prize and we don’t play for consolation prizes.”
:Huge eye roll:
If you saw today’s Cubs game on the Marquee network, the Cubs announcers spoke with Ricketts during third and fourth inning where he made most of these comments.
Every time Ricketts opens his mouth he confirms how little he understands the game.
Yup rondon, the one thing Tommy boy said that I agree with, is that Ross DOES create a very good clubhouse culture. Also I agree Hendricks should be brought back.
But how does Ross not get hammered for the entire September collapse? Ross did absolutely nothing except running out the basically same lineup day after day – waiting for things to change. He showed absolutely no desire to show any faith in young position players – even when he played Mervis for that month, somehow it just seemed like Ross couldn’t wait to get some veteran back in the lineup.
I can’t believe the FO is going to let Ross figure out how to fit the likes of Caissie, PCA, Canario and even Mervis – into the current group.
Ross would be a typical manager, maybe in the Leo Durocher era.
Dog… He’s just not ready for prime time. And his learning curve cost them games this year. Hoyer can’t be that clueless, can he? Ricketts definitely is. They could really compete next year with the right additions. They wanna trust that to a guy who’s best suited to be a base coach?
In other words, no Shohei Ohtani in Wrigleyville.
Ohtani will completely decimate a teams payroll and set them up for failure as a whole. Some team will offer him 550 plus million for a torn UCL. He may never pitch again. He may never be anything like he was on the mound even if he does come back. But history has shown us that some team will be stupid enough to pay for what he’s done vs future production.
As a Red Sox fan, my biggest fear this off-season is that we do sign Ohtani. Sure, he’s been amazing for the last few seasons, but there’s no way he can continue like that for a 10+ year contract. And like you said, we don’t even know if he’ll ever pitch again
Some team will fall in love with the idea but it’s a horrible investment in my opinion. Red Sox should take that money and get pitching pitching and more pitching
And it’ll end just like Miggy and Pujols- the greatest hitters of their eras- with 5 full seasons of trash production.
Red Sox should take that money and get pitching pitching and more pitching………..
======================
And when they finish that, they should get more pitching.
That will be my mantra this off-season. IMVHO, Whitlock & Houck were well-intentioned experiments, but both those guys should be great multi-inning, high-leverage RPs, and we need at least two SPs that you can count on for 160+ innings.
Ohtani will likely just wind up on a team that doesn’t care about the luxury tax all to much. The dodgers “worry” about it to an extent, but I’m pretty sure they’ll gladly exceed it every year they need to if it means bringing in Ohtani. Same with the Mets. Stearns has a different approach than a typical open pocket pobo, but even he would likely gladly sign Ohtani knowing that payroll isn’t going to be an issue.
Not sure I’d want to sign Ohtani for that kind of money even before the TJS came to light. Yes, he can hit but that’s not what the contract would be for. Hopefully whichever team does sign him learns from the Strasburg fiasco and takes out insurance.
Exactly… frankly there is already a history to reference. The Angels had Ohtani and Trout for 6 years. Never made the playoffs and not one season above .500
That surprise you in any way? There is no way the Cubs will ever pay that kind of money for a contract. Not while Tom is in charge.
Ohtani wasn’t going there anyway.
I’m not exactly sure where they came up with the Cubs payroll was 186 million in March. I think it was more like 225 million at least according to Spotrac. Maybe I’m wrong ( It’s been known to happen), It just seems off. If Stroman opts in I think that makes the Hendricks situation much more interesting Plus if they re sign Hendricks and Stroman opts in that’s 37 million bucks to add to the kitty which makes Belli coming back a non happening. They’ll get a decent draft pick for him and I think it eliminates any big time FA signing frankly. Nobody really believes Ohtani was ever coming here anyway , At least I didn’t. I don’t think spending big is the best path for the Cubs anyway.
I don’t believe the payroll estimate of $184MM included the $22.3 Million the Cubs paid Jason Heyward to play for the Dodgers.
It was only 5 million. His contract was deferred for 5 million a year for the next 4 years so there’s 3 years at 5 million left.
185 million is actual payroll vs 225 luxury tax commitment.
According to Cots, the Cubs are sitting at around 150 million prior to arbitration raises (handful on non-tender candidates on that list). Most will be small raises, Steeles first time through arbitration, Madrigal won’t see a huge raise, nor will Alzolay.
I’ve seen rumors Stroman plans on exercising his option, plus the Cubs exercising Hendricks, that knocks approx 35 million off the available payroll which should give them around 90 to spend if they choose to do so.
I personally would attempt to re-sign Bellinger, pick one of Hendricks or Stroman and trade the other, make an honest effort to sign the pitcher from Japan
Going into next season, I would have an open competition for the fifth slot with Wicks having the inside track, Assad, Brown, Smyly the other four (unless someone else really steps up). Assuming it would be Wicks with Assad moving to the pen, Smyly also in the pen with Brown in AAA to start. Assuming Brown continues to do well, I’d work him in on the first prolonged IL stint and look to move either Stroman or Hendricks, whoever stayed, if Brown is the better option at the deadline. Horton would move to the “on deck” circle after Browns moved up to take over Tailon at some point in 25.
No idea how I came up with 90 million…. Disregard
It is confusing. According to Spotrac, If Stroman opts in and the Cubs pick up Hendricks option the payroll sits at around 186 million before any arbitration raises are handed out. And the Cubs have a slew of them but it probably won’t amount to huge money. Which makes the Happ extension and NTC all the more confusing. Canario could of just slid into that spot and added 20 some million to play with. That could of payed for a closer and 3 above average Bullpen arms. Sigh. I begged them not to do it, But they did. My opinion is if Stroman opts in they could trade him for a pretty good closer and save money at the same time. Brown needs to refine his command still and Horton’s only pitched 5 innings twice for them, Both in the playoffs this year. Assad and Wicks would be good SP’s.
Just saw you suggested the same about Stroman below. Kudos.
As I mentioned, if Stroman opts in, I would deal him. I would also package Mervis with Smyly and Bote to clear that space… I’d actually deal either Stroman or Hendricks but I believe Hendricks may have 10/5 rights. I’d keep one to bridge and possibly move them mid-season if possible
I’m not high on Mervis and I think the Cubs going with Young tells me all I need to know about their feelings. I do think he would be intriguing enough for some teams to take on salary. Freeing up 13 million by moving Bote and Smyly would be big.
If the Cubs want to keep the payroll similar, they will have to get creative with contracts (which annoys me), player options and shifting money to next season.
I’d like to see the Cubs go outside the organization for a 1-2 year quick fix at corner infield/dh. I’d also push Morel to really work at third and first base.
Madrigal, Amaya and Morel would be my primary bench players. Morel is too much Wisdom to be considered an everyday player right now, Madrigal doesn’t have the body for 162 games nor the offensive profile for third. I’d love to have him on the bench and available if Hoerner hits the IL.
It’s also worth noting, Gomes has a 6 million dollar option. I think the Cubs could re-sign him with an additional year but lower AAV.
Other than Mervis I agree with you. Dealing Mervis just to get rid of Smyly is a horrible idea. Young can play 3B ( Albeit badly) was the only reason he was brought up to cover in case Candelerio didn’t make it back. Young is gone after this year anyway. I’m pretty sure if the Cubs could of gotten rid of Bote they would have by now.
I don’t believe in Mervis and I doubt Young was ever going to be considered at third, even in a dire circumstance. The Cubs had Morel and Mastrobouni to play third, Young was brought up because the Cubs didn’t believe in Mervis. I tend to trust scouts, especially in playoff situations and the scouts said Young over Mervis.
Lots of scouts also weren’t all that high on Mervis, fans were because he was so good last year and still posted good minor league numbers, but lots of guys post good minor league numbers and cannot hit ml pitching.
It should’ve been Mervis and Mancini in a platoon at 1B coming out of ST this year. The Hosmer signing was stupid and detoured Mervis for absolutely no reason. Then when Bellinger got hurt and Tauchman took off they let Belli play 1B to save his knee. Even with being jerked around Mervis hit like 23 HR’s in AAA and his 90 or so AB’s in the Bigs doesn’t really prove anything yet. He should and probably will be the 1B next year barring an injury. The Cubs have other prospects to trade with Smyly that are farther away if they relly want to get rid of him that bad. And I still don’t get why they would have to add someone to trade him. He was 11-11 and he has a reasonable salary so there are teams who would take a flier on him I would think. You wouldn’t get anything back but the salary dump.
90 at bats at the ml level shows more than anything at the minor league level, truly. Not saying Mervis cannot be a good player and I’m not a scout but I’d be willing to bet his 90 at bats showed he needs to change his swing to hit major league pitching the way Rizzo had to. If hitting AAA was indicative of big league success, guys like LaHair would have found success.
I also disagree completely on Mancini, dude never should have been signed. He kept Tauchman off the ML roster to start the season and played a horrendous RF while Suzuki was out.
LOL. You and I disagree on Mervis and to some extent on Madrigal. mike and I totally disagree on what Morel could be. I disagree with both of you as to how bad we need Hendricks. That’s what makes it all FUN! LOL. And if I’m right about Morel, Then Shaw can be the utility guy and we never have to here of Nicky Two Crow Hop step any more. This is fun.
The question is Morels arm at third, and his streakiness. Apparently, David “no faith” Ross wouldn’t put Morel at third because how inconsistent his accuracy was at third.
Back to Ross needing to be fired, let’s go back to his decision to put the breaks on stealing bases because the team started to hit home runs. “It’s by design, we don’t want to run ourselves into outs” sure we won a bunch of games running the bases blind but chicks dig the long ball right?
Oh oh, another classic Ross, telling Suzuki he needed to try to hit more home runs which took a guy who was on fire early to an epic cold streak. Good thing he went back to his early season approach later in the season.
Only the Cubs would sign a guy from another country who was successful and try to totally change his approach. Right now I’m not sure exactly what Suzuki is after 2 years. That’s the big reason they should stay away from Yamamoto. They would bring him over, Try to make him throw their sweeper slider like they did Tallion with probably the same results. When Tallion went back to his Curve, Cutter pproach he was much more like he used to be.
But the sweeper worked so well for Tallion in the spring… against minor leaguers. Weird it didn’t translate over to the regular season…
Seeing a Cubs steal 40 bags was great! Imagine how many more Hoerner would have had if Rossy didn’t shut down the run game early in the season.
I always hate the analytical way of thinking regarding steals. Numbers are great but it doesn’t take into consideration the human element, knowing you have a guy on first who’s looking to steal changes how a pitcher thinks and what pitches he throws. That’s why I actually like have Mastobouni as a bench guy, he’s a great base stealer. Gets good reads and understands situations and counts. PCA needs to get some experience under his belt because he can be an elite base stealer as well once he learns how to read the pitcher better
I’d really like the Cubs to teach their pitchers Change ups rather than sliders. The reason Wicks and Horton are basically the fastest risers in the system is they both throw change ups. Wicks’ is awesome and Horton’s still could use some improvement but is already above average. A good Change will get you to the Bigs faster than a 10 foot breaking slider that nobody swings at. Hendricks has been getting away with it for years. He’d be worth the 16 million if he’d teach it to all the Cubs pitchers.
He’s worth 14.5 which is the difference in his guy out and his tax number.
Sliders/sweepers whatever people want to call them are great if you can control them. Wesneski’s is filthy but he cannot command the pitch and gets him trouble.
I just think of what could have been with Maples, his slider was off the charts! Righties stood no chance, looked like John Kruk and Larry Walker against the big unit. Carlos Marmol as well, he was unhittable but couldn’t throw three strikes before four balls
Swanson, Taillon, Happ and possibly Suzuki are all negative contracts. They could have deferred semi-contention for a year or two, avoided these contracts, and been set up well to go hard in free agency after 2024.
What does negative contract mean? Swanson, Happ and Suzuki outperformed their contract values this season
Swanson in fact did not
Swanson, if fact, did. He had 4.8 bWAR and 5.0 fWAR, which was worth $30M-$40M, and he was paid $14M.
If he puts up similar numbers going forward, he’ll justify his upcoming $26M-$28M salaries for the next six seasons. If he doesn’t, he’s already provided around $20M in excess value to help counter his likely age-related decline.
He more than covered his salary. 4.8 bWAR and making $14 million this year. He crushed it.
Happs salary in 2023 was around $12M, I believe. There is no way Happ came close to justifying his $20M/yr, extension. And with a supposed NTC? OMG! JHey flashback!
Dogbone,
If you click on Happ’s name in the article, you can scroll down to find out he made $10.85M this year and will be paid $21M, $21M, and $19M the next three seasons.
His bWAR was 2.9, fWAR was 3.5, so he was worth $20M-$25M this year. Similar performance going forward would be in line with his salaries, and he provided around $12M in excess value to offset any decline.
I think you’re putting too much faith in WAR.
It’s a ballpark estimate. If someone wants to argue they’re not worth their salaries, what’s the basis for that view? At least I showed my work.
I dont really care about how much money they make. I just don’t see Happ as much of anything. My scouting report is good pop when he makes contacts, but contact is too infrequent and basically disappears for 2 months or more while mired in powerless slumps. Not necessarily a totally unique description in today’s game, but that just doesn’t excite me.
Imagine complaining that 3 out of 4 players on recent significant contracts put up well above average production.
That is an all time bad take. For starters, aside from Tallion, every single one of those guys earned their money. Double down on the fact that all those guys would be in the top 10 if not top 5 position players on the market this offseason.
I’d like to see them retain Bellinger, but he’s still a roll of the dice, and he’ll be looking for $30+M a year for 6-8 years. Too much of a gamble, but if they do keep him, the roster has not been improved, just maintained.
For some reason I see them signing Aaron Nola. How would Cub fans react to that?
Depends what Nola you get. Jeez that guy is so up and down.
Montgomery is the sleeper pitcher this offseason. Model of consistency
I would strongly prefer Yoshinobu Yamamoto over Nola. Agree Montgomery is a great get if it is second tier pricing.
Yamamoto
Steele
Hendricks/Stroman/Assad/Wicks
For the 3 and 4
Taillon
I am fine with Alzolay as closer but Cubs need a couple more middle relievers.
Morel should be permanent DH. His bat plays, his glove does not.
Gomes should be kept for one more year. Amaya is the backup and 2025 starter.
Need a corner bat or a CF, Taughman is fine as backup OF. Wisdom is a backup or released.
I’m curious about Bellinger, it’s a really weak class so maybe someone will flinch but I think Nimmos contract is a fair comp. Maybe a slight bump due to age but that’s also kind of offset with his past history.
I personally would offer a similar deal with a front loaded deal and opt out after two years.
I’d like to see someone ask Ricketts the difficult questions.. like why does the payroll need to stay around the same level? Why can’t it move up? Other teams have spent significantly more – albeit with poor outcomes in SD, NYM, NYY. Wrigleyville and the Cubs are a cash cow. The Cubs should never have a payroll below $200m or even $250m for that matter.
Here’s a tough question for Tom, “dude, what is your hard on for Sammy Sosa? He’s the best HR hitter in team history and you remain to have him banned from even existing in team history? You weren’t even here when he was here. It’s been 20 years for God’s sake! What gives, bro?!?”
Pretty sure Sosa is ded and that’s some poor clone version we see from time to time like from the movie multiplicity – a copy of a copy. lol
I didn’t know anyone really cared about Sosa…. interesting.
Sosa belongs as part of the organization.
I’m not sure you know what a hard on is.
Ryan, the writer kinda commingled payroll and with the luxury tax threshold. They’re different based on how contracts are structured. The Cubs had an actual payroll under $200M, but their hit to the tax threshold was around $230M, just under the threshold. I think most of the difference was Hayward’s contract and how they structured Bellinger’s contract.
You gave 3 great reasons to not go out and lock into a bunch of 8 year $300M contracts. SD, Mets and Yankees. Completely screws your payroll when those contracts go sour
So, basically, Ricketts confirmed that next year will be just like this year. Winning on the margins and maybe sneaking into the playoffs. I say that because if he wants to keep spending where it is now, no way Belli comes back, so they’re down their best hitter. How do you overcome that? He’s banking on the young guys, but frankly, I don’t see a difference maker among the youth. Not in ’24 anyway. PCA is a difference maker defensively, but we don’t know if he can hit. As for Ross, if you’re giving him credit for that surge, then don’t you have to blame him for the choke job? You can’t have it both ways. Unless your name is Ricketts.
Rememberthecoop everything you said is a valid point. Tom Ricketts stopped caring about winning November 3rd 2016, the day after the WS victory. Ricketts said Ross did a great job but I guess he didn’t watch many games, a horrible first 2 months and a September collapse. It wasn’t too long ago when Theo Epstein said every season is important as Tom sat next to him nodding his head up and down. I guess those days are gone right Tom?
Yeah but he sure transformed Bedford Falls into Pottersville. No more Yum Yum donuts. Lotsa neon like Vegas tho and $1200 hotel rooms. Just need a Ronnie woo woo hologram to match the creepy Harry Caray videos they’ve been running on repeat. Real Cub fans deserve better
Any reference to It’s a Wonderful Life gets a thumbs up!
Cubs are going to have to figure out how to move some money around. Me personally, I’d attach Mervis to Smyly to get his payroll off the table and try to move Bote’s three million of dead money as well. Also, if Stroman opts in, I would deal him for a solid bullpen piece
All I heard was “more of the same” through Ricketts’ blah blah blah. They flipped two pitchers, ever, into Jake Arrieta & Pedro Strop. They got lucky. Ever since, they continue trying to use duct tape & bubble gum with discarded parts from other teams and that crap is why our bullpen lost our playoff chances down the stretch. They desperately need bullpen help and at least one solid new starter with a flyer on another going into next year. This team was built to be flipped at the deadline and called an audible at the last minute and tried to act like a playoff contender, which left them exposed. They should be in on BOTH Belli & Ohtani — but they won’t. Regardless, they need two solid MLB-ready bat’s, 1-2 new solid SP, and a brand-new bullpen built around Azolay & Fulmer.
There are slides and then there are slides like this one which was quite the electric slide. Slide to the left. Slide to the right. Criss cross. Criss cross. Cha cha real smooth
1. Cody B. is someone the Cubs should sign and should offer $175 million over six year with an opt-out after two seasons.
2. David Ross needs to be fired.
3. Pen arms are needed.
4. If Stroman opts in then the Cubs should try to package him Tallion together and get them off the team.
5. The team has great young talent coming through the pipeline and next year should be better and the only glaring hole is third base as long as the Cubs bring back Cody for first base.
Well besides the bullpen and the Cubs need better late inning pitchers.
4. Who pitches those ~300 innings if Stroman and Taillon are gone?
5. How about signing Jeimer Candelario to come back to play 3B?
It’s too early in the contract to pull the plug on JT and he was much improved in the second half, closer to who he’s been his career.
I don’t want Candelario on a 3-4 year deal. Cubs should be looking at a 1-2 year quick fix at third tops.
On what planet would any team give up value for Stroman AND taillon packaged together? That’s a lot of money right there. If they wanted to deal stroman (and why should they?)the best way to get value would be to deal him individually.
Mark, the way you use “as such” is ungrammatical. It doesn’t mean “therefore.” It means “as [the antecedent].” Correct example: Tom Ricketts is the owner of the Cubs. As such [i.e., as the owner of the Cubs], he has some say over David Ross’s retention as manager.” Incorrect example: Tom Ricketts owns the Cubs. As such [i.e., as the Cubs], he has some say,” etc.
I find this interesting from the outside, since the Cubs have two or in one case three times the profit coming in on their local TV deal as others in their division. So they definitely could out payroll the rest if they wanted.
Nah they just gonna buy out the remainder of lake view and boys town then the real fun begins for Cubbie nation. A staging area for a ground assault on Kamkatchya via Irktusk
The Cubs were just under the luxury tax threshold in 2023. What was still a rebuild year.
Regardless, I agree with the approach they’re taking. Build the system for sustained success and fill in with a couple free agents. Stay away from the $300M contracts that cripple a roster for years.
I’ve said it before, but anyone who gives more than a three year deal for pitchers or a five year deal for a position player is asking for trouble.
Yamamoto should be the Cubs number one target followed by fixing that God awful pen.
The Cubs future is the brightest in the NL.
Brightest in all sport
100%
I love (sarcastically) the way writers manipulate things to sway their opinions. The Cubs “payroll” may have been around 185 million but their luxury tax number was just a shade under the threshold.
I liked the fact Ricketts didn’t say the season was a success because it wasn’t. They made improvements but collapsing in September out weighed the majority of the positive steps the Cubs made this year.
Ross manages scared. I don’t care if the players like him or not. Maybe the Cubs can keep him as the “face” but someone else needs to be making the in game decisions and line up for that matter.
If you look at why the Cubs failed to make the playoffs, the key factor was bullpen management and Ross being too wishy washy. Everyone knew Alzolay should have been the defacto closer, except Ross. We lost a lot of games due to his decision to go with veterans over Alzolay early and we lost a lot more at the end because he didn’t use Little at all even though he was burning the few “trusted” arms we had in the pen.
Cuas is a gimmick, he’s a great guy to come in and give teams a different look but he really shouldn’t be used in back to back games or against the same team/hitters in a series.
Let’s see how bad Barnhart, Smyly and Mancini hurt this team next year, it’s quite a bit of money tied up in players who were DFA or in Smyly case, just making too much money.
Cubs need to sign some bullpen arms, that’s one of the main reasons the team didn’t get into the playoffs.
It seems to me the pivotal issue is whether they’re able to bring back Bellinger. Subtract his production (given the limited offensive help in this year’s free agent market) and this team is considerably worse, with no obvious solution in sight. The rest is window dressing and polishing around the edges.
If the previous Cubs model was a blueprint then Ross should be canned and an proven pedigree manager should be hired. see Renteria vs Maddon.