Chicago Cubs: These moves prevented team from adding Bryce Harper

Chicago Cubs: Arbitration salaries are no joke

Last, but not least, in roadblocks to the Cubs potential pursuit of Harper is the salaries of their arbitration-eligible players. Báez ($5.2 million), Bryant ($12.9 million), Hendricks ($7.405 million) and Schwarber ($3.39 million) are all getting more expensive as the years pass.

Once each of these players hits free agency, there is no telling what kind of contracts they will be in the market for. The safe assumption is that the Cubs won’t be able to keep all of them.

Will the Cubs: 1) be able to retain all members of their current core after the arbitration process is up; and/or 2) want to retain them all? That is a question for another time, but regardless of what happens, the aforementioned players’ salaries all will continue to rise.

Until these players hit free agency, the team will have to have payroll space to keep them. Who knows how much Báez and Bryant will cost in 2020, assuming both have brilliant 2019 seasons like they are all capable of.

Between these salaries, questionable free agent signing spurred out of necessity and picking up an unforeseen player option, there is no way the Cubs could have afforded Harper.

The dream of Harper manning Wrigley Field’s outfield for years to come was good while it lasted. With the superstar now off to the City of Brotherly Love, at least Cubs fans can move on and finally let the dream die.