Are the Chicago Cubs past the peak of their competitive window?

Chicago Cubs: Leveraging the Rangers into a trade for Drew Smyly

To add to the bullpen, the Cubs signed Brad Brach to a one-year contract with a second-year option. The rest of the bullpen has been filled out with guys that cost almost nothing such as Xavier Cedeño and Tony Barnette.

Even when the Cubs spent money this offseason by picking up Hamels’ option, they leveraged it to dump some salary. If his option wasn’t picked up, Hamels had a $6 million buyout in his contract. The terms of the trade between the Rangers and Cubs said that if Hamels’ option wasn’t picked the Rangers would pay the buyout. But if his option was picked up the Cubs would have to pay the whole $20 million.

The Rangers wanted the Cubs to pick up said option because Texas would then save $6 million= they would otherwise get nothing for. So Chicago convinced the Rangers to trade for Drew Smyly.

By doing so the Cubs saved the $7 million that Smyly is owed for 2019. The Rangers get something for their millions of dollars instead of just wasting it on the buyout of a contract for a player who isn’t even on their team any longer.