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Chicago Cubs: What does Theo Epstein want this holiday season?
Needless to say, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein wishes he had some more money. But what else could be on his wish list?
The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. That rang especially true two years ago when we were all still basking in the glow of a Chicago Cubs World Series championship. But even after a disappointing end to the baseball season, I love this time of year.
The best Christmas I ever had was when I was seven years old. I had a pretty big list for Santa and to be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get everything on my list. When Christmas rolled around and my family piled into the living room, the traditional spot for the Christmas tree, everything on my list of presents was under the tree! Christmas can be really awesome when you get everything you want.
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is hoping for a Christmas where he can get everything he wants. The question is: will it be enough to get the Chicago Cubs back to the World Series?
On the top of Epstein’s wish list? A fleshed-out pitching staff. Everyone knows that Epstein prides himself on putting out a top-notch group of arms. However, this year it’s more about getting his current stable to perform at higher levels and keeping them healthy.
Last season, Epstein wanted to use closer Brandon Morrow only in tight situations. While the season started that way, as soon as the Cubs started feeling the heat, the right-hander appeared more often than intended by Epstein originally. Whether this was the cause of Morrow’s injury is good food for debate but the fact remains – Morrow still isn’t healthy.
Then there’s the Yu Darvish situation, which you know must cause Epstein’s heart to ache as he thinks about the money sunk into this pitcher who pitched just eight times in 2018. You can bet that unless he’s given the Holy Grail, he’s going to see his horse get mended and earn every dime he’s sunk into the Darvish movement. Epstein is hoping Santa brings him the pitching that he envisioned back in 2017.
Next. Back to the Championship. dark
Chicago Cubs: A return to the Fall Classic
The next thing on Epstein’s wish list is to win the World Series in 2019. The Cubs’ front office head knows he must deliver the goods for his team and he believes with some minor tweaks, he has the right group to do it. Like any good boss though, Epstein is attacking on all fronts.
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He’s given notice to Cubs skipper, Joe Maddon that he wants to see him more in the field with the players and wants to see better results from the offense. The team let Chili Davis walk after just one year in hopes of jump-starting the bats. Time will tell if such a move pays off.
As I mentioned, Epstein badly desires a healthy group of arms that can get the job done for him next season. The rest of the National League Central is improving by leaps and bounds and, in case you forgot, last season didn’t wind up quite like Epstein had envisioned – despite 95 regular season victories.
Epstein wants the Cubs to go into games strong and healthy, get ahead early and then finish them off in the late innings. Take things one day, one series at a time. If the Cubs can keep the game all business while staying healthy, Santa may have delivered Epstein’s big present – another World Series championship.
Next. It's all in the budget. dark
Chicago Cubs: It’s all in the budget
The last thing on Epstein’s wish list is more under his control than his other asks – the payroll. Fans think the Cubs are being dodgy this offseason because they don’t want to go over the luxury tax rate when in truth most teams are being frugal over this winter. Epstein is talking about keeping the current stable of players, getting more out of what they have and improving coaching.
The perception is the Cubs are watching their money this year when fans are screaming for them to spend for big names like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado. Only two teams blew the luxury cap last year: the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox.
In Boston’s case, it paid off well with another title, but this year the Yankees, Phillies and Cubs are all watching their budget and trying to make the most fiscally sound deals possible. If Santa can drop Epstein a financial plan for the rest of the offseason that includes ‘some’ acquisitions, Epstein will be smiling all the way to Mesa, AZ in the spring.
Epstein came out of the 2018 season with raw emotion over a Cubs team that did not realize their dream to go back to the World Series. His reputation as the man with the golden touch in baseball, especially after his previous successful years in Boston, only makes this season all the more important for the young Epstein.
Next. Teams around the league wheeling and dealing. dark
Santa may have given the Cubs’ leader all he asked for under the tree back in 2016 but he’s now extending his line of credit at the North Pole hoping he has enough to get Santa box seats for another Fall Classic at Wrigley Field in 2019.