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Chicago Cubs: Done with arbitration, Theo Epstein is ready to strike
The Chicago Cubs are set with their arbitration-eligible players. They are now able to explore moves but the question is, what will they be, and when?
The Cubs offseason has been quiet. But it’s the kind of quiet that has one thinking, “Hmm, too quiet.” Fans and writers have lamented the lack of offseason moves. But with so many key players arbitration eligible it was difficult for Theo and the gang to make any moves until that was resolved. Then there is the Kris Bryant service time grievance that remains in limbo.
All that being said, Chicago reached agreements with Bryant, ($18.6 million), the best defender in baseball according to Statcast Javier Baez ($10 million), Kyle Schwarber ($7.01 million), Willson Contreras ($4.5 million), Albert Almora ($1.575 million), and pitcher Kyle Ryan ($975K) – avoiding arbitration hearings with all six players.
That’s $42.66 million allocated to those half-dozen players. According to Spotrac, the club’s payroll now stands at $210.215 million, just $2.215 million over the luxury tax threshold.
That’s not the whole story because the entire 40-man roster isn’t set. The payroll will undoubtedly creep up once that happens. Nonetheless, the Cubs are now positioned to begin seriously exploring potential moves.
There has been a lot of “woe is us” by Theo Epstein and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts about the payroll and luxury tax. Too much in my opinion. To say it once, ok maybe; twice, ok I get it; over and over again and it starts to sound like “thou protest too much.” I’m not buying that the Cubs will stand pat all season.
Chicago Cubs: Theo hasn’t been shy when making moves
In 2004, Epstein traded Boston fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra and prospect Matt Murton to the Cubs, and in exchange received two Gold Glove infielders, shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Twins. The BoSox went on to win the World Series.
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This was a blockbuster trade, so let’s breakdown it down. The Red Sox sent Garciaparra, a solid shortstop who had amassed a career slash of .321/.367/.500 and an .867 OPS, to the Cubs.
They got back, and not from the Cubs mind you, a better defensive shortstop in Orlando Cabrera, who was a decent hitter in his own right. They also acquired Mientkiewicz.
In 2008, another multi-team deal involving a key Red Sox player was the Manny Ramirez trade that sent the mercurial outfielder to the Dodgers, bringing Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston. Bay had two very good years in Boston before leaving as a free agent.
Some key points here to note. Both of the deals were multi-team deals, both included core players on the Red Sox roster, and both were made during a window of contention. A couple of other things to note, the Red Sox got back a player that took the spot of the player they traded, and both trades were made at the trade deadline.
Chicago Cubs: What would a trade look like
So, if the Cubs trade a piece from their core I guarantee you they will get back, from somewhere, a player to replace that core piece. What they will not do is trade a piece from their core for a handful of magic bean prospects.
There is much hand wringing and gnashing of teeth that the Cubs didn’t make a big splash at the Winter Meetings, that the ongoing Bryant service time grievance is messing up trade opportunities, or that by trading from the core it will ruin the team. Epstein has shown in two key cases that all this angst is unnecessary.
I fully expect a deal, most likely at the trade deadline because a deal then makes the most sense. The Cubs will know better where improvement is most needed, teams on the cusp of competing will be looking to improve, and rebuilding teams will have assets available.
Next. El Mago reigns supreme in latest defensive rankings. dark
The bottom line is that there are months to make an impactful deal, a deal that makes the Cubs better in 2020 and beyond, and yes, no one is untouchable. Just ask Nomar and Manny.