If the Chicago Cubs don’t land a big signing, is this winter a failure?

Russell Martin passed on the Chicago Cubs, instead heading to Toronto where the Blue Jays offered him substantially more money. On Tuesday, the Cubs met with free agent pitcher Jon Lester. But according to some reports, the meeting may have been a lost cause.

Peter Gammons knows his baseball, so many times what he says is likely rooted in some fact. So if that is the case, then what? Max Scherzer? Rumors are the Detroit Tigers may shell out to keep him there, making their free agent splash with their own free agents (Scherzer, Victor Martinez). This leaves, oh….James Shields. But after his less than stellar playoff performance, some people soured on his value. For the sake of this, let’s just say the Cubs don’t sign him either. So the winter is a big failure, right? The Cubs couldn’t sway anyone to come play for Joe Maddon and the soon-to-be remodeled Wrigley Field? This team is destined for failure, it has to be.

Wrong.

First, the Cubs weren’t going to overpay for a 32-year old catcher, no matter how much potential he has to be a leader. Welington Castillo can still improve, Kyle Schwarber has the organization excited, and Victor Caratini acquired from the Braves is promising. Within two years you’ll be glad the team passed on the bidding war.

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Second, when Jon Lester was traded mid-season, it was believed that in the end he would return to Boston. An off-the-book handshake deal. The Cubs were in the mix for a) the amount of payroll flexibility they have. b) Theo Epstein’s relationship with Lester from his Boston days. And much of that talk didn’t pick up until the Cubs hired Maddon.

As far as Scherzer? I don’t recall much talk at all until Maddon was hired. Many of these free agents were mentioned in connection with the Cubs, but not many were they frontrunners for, until Maddon.

While the media, fans, and everyone within shouting distance of Wrigley went Hot Stove crazy that the Cubs were going to spend $400 million this winter, that was never the case.

"“We said we’re going to be aggressive over the next 15 months and look for opportunities to get better,” Epstein said Monday night. “It’s probably the first time agents can come into our suites without having to look both ways to make sure no one sees them coming in. We’re no longer the runt of the litter, I guess.” h/t Paul Sullivan"

The Cubs have a young core of players, many with team friendly contracts. They have organizational depth, especially in the middle-infield. And they have payroll flexibility, something few teams have. But they weren’t on the cusp of winning the World Series this year and just needed that “one” piece. They weren’t even on the cusp of making the playoffs. They did almost catch the Reds to avoid last place, but that hardly warrants a spending spree.

The media created many of the stories you see in regards to how likely teams are to sign players. The Cubs became favorites because the media made them one. But a full-blown spending spree was never in the cards this winter. They may still sign Lester, or trade for Cole Hamels, or simply signone of the other mid-level free agents this winter. It may not be the “splash” the fans or media wants, but this rebuilding hasn’t been a splash either. At times it damn well seemed it was simply treading water. But there was a method, and there still is.

So save the groans, the social-media bashing, and all the other disdain you may have when Lester signs with Boston, or Scherzer with Detroit. The plan is the same as it was, and with a much better free agent class to come after the 2015 season, the Cubs will be in a prime position. Maddon will have had a year under his belt, Wrigley will be one Phase better than it was, and there will be just as much money to spend.

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