Chicago Cubs: Jed Lowrie joins Mets; Ricketts stopping Theo?

Jed Lowrie inked a two-year deal with the New York Mets as reports surfaced indicating Tom Ricketts may be stopping the Chicago Cubs from spending.

To say it’s been a weird week is an understatement. It started with the Chicago Bears’ heartwrenching loss on Sunday in the NFL playoffs and, now, Tom Ricketts and Chicago Cubs ownership may be keeping the front office from making a serious run at free agent Bryce Harper.

The rumor, which comes from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (sub required), is made in passing. The piece itself isn’t about the Cubs, per se, but rather a potential Harper reunion with the only team he’s ever played for – the Washington Nationals. Regardless, here it is:

"The Cubs would love a shot at Harper, though ownership approval continues to appear unlikely, sources say."

That’s it. But that one line has turned Cubs Twitter on its head in the last 24 hours – despite not really offering any new information.

We’ve known since the onset of the offseason that Chicago is operating under tight financial oversight and that they seem unlikely to make a big splash in the free agent market – with Harper or the two other big fish left, Manny Machado or Craig Kimbrel.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis

As the Cubs sit on their hands, the reigning NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers have added All-Star backstop Yasmani Grandal in recent days and reportedly are working hard to add an infielder, as well. If they do so, it would be difficult to find a weak spot anywhere in that lineup heading into the new campaign.

First-year GM Brodie Van Wagenen continues to reshape the New York Mets, inking 35-year-old veteran infielder Jed Lowrie to a two-year, $20 million deal. Last season with Oakland, Lowrie slashed .267/.353/.448 with a career-high 99 RBI and 23 long balls.

It’s hard to imagine him replicating those types of numbers as he hits the back half of his thirties, but he’s a nice get regardless.

Cubs on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ihapp_1/status/1083476160145690629

These & Other Stories You May Have Missed

Vegas releases 2019 MLB win projections – Cubbies Crib

Why baseball broadcasts can be effective tool for learning English – The Athletic

Team operating under a Harper tax? – Cubbies Crib

Cubs working to recover from second-half slump – MLB.com

Don’t sleep on this left-hander in the pen – Cubbies Crib

What’s Next?

The Chicago Cubs will report to Spring Training in Mesa on Feb. 13 – with the first full-squad workout coming six days later on Feb. 19.