Theo Epstein will have his work cut out for him this offseason to try to get the Chicago Cubs to achieve the ultimate goal of winning another World Series.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will go down as one of the best baseball executives to ever do the job. The biggest reasons for that as we all know he is known as the “curse breaker” for ending the two longest championship droughts in baseball history with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
Epstein has two more years on his contract with the Cubs. This became a topic of discussion over the last week as a Boston Globe article came out that Epstein could be a candidate to fill the job in Boston. That was shot down on Wednesday evening Epstein was meeting with the media before the Cubs took on the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
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"“We have a lot we need to work on to get back to the level we’re accustomed to,’’ Epstein said. “I’m invested in that.’’"
It was nice to hear Epstein shoot down the speculation of him leaving the Cubs to go back to his former team. Epstein will have his work cut out for him this offseason, to get his team back to playing good playoff baseball.
It has not been a secret about Joe Maddon most likely not returning as the Cubs manager for next season as his contract is up at the end of this season. I’m not saying that its a done deal that Maddon will not be back but it sounds like that will be the case. Whatever happens, they will either have to work on a contract with Maddon or go out and find another manager. One name that has floated around with the Cubs manager job is former Cub, David Ross.
Epstein will have another tough job in trying to resign Nicholas Castellanos. He boosted his value during the second half of the season with the Cubs. That is a move that most Cubs fans will support. I know I will because where would this season have gone if it was not for Casteallnos? Castellanos seems like a perfect fit for the Cubs and it seemed like he fell in love with the Wrigley Field atmosphere.
Change will be coming to the 2020 Cubs roster. Epstein said it himself on Wednesday when he talked with the media.
"“There’s obviously change needed in a lot of areas”…“It was made clear over the course of the year, too, in a lot of ways and back to last year in some regards too.”"
Epstein stressed the last offseason that this was a “Season of reckoning” for many players and if they did not perform change was in order. I think anyone who watched the 2019 Cubs can all agree that this team did not perform to the expectations that were given to them. With all, that change will be coming and that’s not always a bad thing.
Epstein has not been perfect (but who has) with his time with the Cubs. The biggest complaint is some questionable free-agent signings with the Cubs. Brandon Morrow, Daniel Descalso, and Jason Heyward to name a few.
But he has done much more good than bad as the man constructing the Cubs. Trading for Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrieta, and Pedro Strop. Drafting Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, and Nico Hoerner and signing Jon Lester and Ben Zobrist.
I fully trust the Theo Epstein will figure everything out this offseason and get the Cubs back to playing the baseball that we all know they can.