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.