Chicago Cubs: Is tanking and rebuilding bad for the game of baseball?

The Chicago Cubs perfectly executed the rebuild strategy running rampant in Major League Baseball. Tank in spectacular fashion – and rake in draft picks.

When Tom Ricketts purchased the Chicago Cubs and Theo Epstein came onboard to run the baseball operations department, we knew things would be different. As fans, we were told to expect a lengthy rebuild – but there would come a time where our beloved ‘Lovable Losers’ would be annual playoff contenders.

That time, of course, came in 2015 – a year earlier than most of us expected. But to reach that point, Chicago unloaded any veterans of value on a perennial basis come July. The sole focus was reloading a farm system that ranked near the bottom of almost every list when Epstein inherited control of the organization.

This tank-and-reload model worked to perfection. Chicago won its first World Series in 108 years and a century of disappointment washed away. One year later, the Houston Astros followed suit. Another year, another proof point for teams languishing near the bottom of the standings.

The latest teams seemingly set to embark upon this journey? The Miami Marlins have blown the model to pieces, trading seemingly every decent name on their roster in a draconian cost-cutting winter. The Pittsburgh Pirates are teetering on the brink, as well. With the Cubs ready to contend for the next four-to-five years and the Brewers making big-time moves, more trades could very well be on the horizon in the Steel City.

Fixing the draft

So, here it is. Scott Boras’ solution to fix baseball.

Boras has proposed draft bonuses for winning games. If a small-market team wins at least 78 games, it receives $2 million more to spend in the draft while the other teams get $1 million. It doubles if you win 80 games, with $2 million increments for every two victories, providing an extra $10 million in draft dollars to small-market clubs, and $5 million to large-market clubs, who win at least 86 games in a season.

It’s not an awful idea – by any stretch. Whether or not you agree with this exact solution is not the point here. The current configuration of the Major League draft is shredding the competitive nature of the sport. Now, I know what you’re going to say: this makes the most sense to regain long-term success for organizations.

Not necessarily.

Leadership is everything

Both Houston and Chicago struck it rich in Kris Bryant and Carlos Correa, respectively. And keep in mind, the Astros took Mark Appel with the top pick in 2013. The Cubs followed that by taking Bryant with the second overall selection. The rest, as they say is history.

Now, Jeff Luhnow got it right (clearly) with Correa. But what if they’d whiffed again? What if Chicago went after Jon Gray instead of Bryant? What I’m getting to is this: getting high draft picks does not necessarily equate to building a long-term winner.

The Cubs have been incredibly well-prepared when it comes to the June draft. And, to be honest, we have enjoyed the leadership and expertise of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer – growing accustomed to regular success, both in free agency and trades.

Not every team has such a reliable hand at the tiller.

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Baseball has to own this mistake. It’s time to encourage competition rather than burning it all to the ground and hoping for the best. Without a competent front office (or perhaps outstanding would be a better term), the tank-and-rebuild guarantees nothing.

Let’s reward teams for winning – not throwing away season after season.