Cubs: 3 players whose futures with team are doomed after shortened season

Injuries, payroll concerns and poor performance will cost these three Cubs.

Despite carrying the second-best record in the National League into Wednesday night’s matchup with the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago Cubs have a great deal of uncertainty around them.

The pitching staff feels like trying to plug holes in a sinking ship using your fingers, guys you counted on to carry the offense haven’t showed up and beyond 2020, the financials for the organization will be a huge focus for ownership.

Underperforming stars like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez aren’t going anywhere. Why? Because Theo Epstein isn’t about to sell low on any of them. It seems far more likely the club hopes for a return to form with eyes cast toward some potential trade deadline deals in 2021.

Chicago is hoping to pull off one more deep postseason run before the group that gained baseball immortality in 2016 begins to go its separate ways. Next year’s Cubs could look vastly different – and for a variety of reasons, these three guys seem highly unlikely to be a part of the 2021 club.