Chicago Cubs News: Will the 2020 season be the ‘Last Dance?’

With the trade deadline approaching and players nearing the end of team-friendly contracts, the days of the Chicago Cubs core may be near an end.

Since taking over as the President of Baseball Operations after the 2011 season, Theo Epstein quickly transformed the Chicago Cubs’ ancient farm system into one of the best talent pools in baseball. Some fans might remember the names of Corey Patterson, Jason Dubois, Felix Pie, Brett Jackson, the list goes on. If you don’t recognize those players, you’re not alone, but they once held the hope of carrying the franchise.

Thankfully, Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer hit big on some transactions and draft picks during the rebuild, except for Javier Baez, who was drafted by former GM Jim Hendry in his final season with the team. Thanks, Jim.

These moves quickly turned the Cubs into a contender and, as you probably know–2016 World Series Champions. One-by-one, we saw the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Baez, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Albert Almora, Kyle Schwarber, and Willson Contreras make their Cubs debuts and establish themselves as the future of the team.

These Chicago Cubs are in their prime

Except for Russell, who is currently playing in the Korean Baseball Organization, these position players are still the core. They are entering the prime years of their baseball careers: Rizzo (31), Bryant (28), Contreras (28), Baez (27), Schwarber (27) and Almora (26).

This stage of their playing days also means the end of team-friendly contracts, as players will look for a bigger payday. A combination of missing the postseason a year ago and a regression at the plate for some of the core members in the past few seasons makes it difficult for Epstein to decide who he should spend money on, and who might be heading out of Chicago.

The uncertainty in the world at the moment also doesn’t make the decisions more comfortable and leads many to wonder if this shortened 2020 season could be the last in a Cubs uniform for some of the household names we have come to know so well.

Chicago Cubs’ Epstein will be tested

I believe this will be one of the toughest tests Epstein will face in his career. Is it time to move on and trade one of the core players while they still have value? Or do you give them one last shot and see if they can find some 2016 magic under new manager David Ross?

Of course, these possible transactions and new contracts all depend on what happens at the end of this shortened season, or possibly in the upcoming weeks.

The good news is only two players have Scott Boras as their agent–Bryant and Almora. The other good news is that we’ve seen the Cubs come out and play like it could be their last time together. There is an energy and buzz in the dugout every game, very reminiscent of the team in 2015-2016.

It’s been one heck of a ride with this core group, aside from giving the fans what they didn’t have for 108 years, they made baseball exciting to watch. If this 2020 season is their last dance, it doesn’t look like the Cubs will go out quietly.