Cubs need to unload these two contracts to right the ship financially

The Cubs are grappling with major financial woes heading into the offseason.

The offseason is rapidly approaching for all of Major League Baseball, but the Chicago Cubs have already put the shortened season behind them and are looking toward 2021. After a disappointing 2019 campaign, the Chicago Cubs were once again contenders in 2020. The North Siders clinched the National League Central and made a postseason appearance. However, their life in the postseason was short-lived due to the fact the Miami Marlins swept the Cubs in the Wild Card Round.

This ending to the 2020 abbreviated season was particularly disappointing, as this was perceived by many as the 2016 World Series championship-winning core’s last chance for a second ring. Now, all that is left to do is move forward and figure out who will stay and who will go before next season. Will Chicago be forced to run it back one more time or will they partake in a full-fledged rebuild?

There is no denying that the Cubs’ payroll will not permit the team to keep the entirety of the team’s core. But given the financial picture painted by the team and the league – the front office needs to jettison some of those high-dollar contracts.

Chicago doled out prorated salaries this season – paying just over $75.6 million, the seventh-highest total in the league. Of course, you can’t forget to take into account no team received any revenue from having fans in attendance this year, either.

It seems likely most teams will be slamming on the brakes when it comes to spending heading into 2021. There are always exceptions, of course, and it’s these teams that will represent the Cubs’ best course forward: unloading two of their biggest contracts in Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel.

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Reliever Craig Kimbrel did not live anywhere near up to his potential with the Chicago Cubs in 2020. The 32-year-old reliever signed a three-year, $43 million deal back in 2019 – and earning $16 million in both 2020 and 2021.

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Additionally, he would have to appear in 55 games and stay healthy next year to see a guaranteed 2022 option and if this option does not become a reality there is a $1 million buyout to relieve the team of Kimbrel sooner. The question left to answer is, is Kimbrel worth that much of the payroll? That is up for debate.

Chicago brought the seven-time All-Star to the North Side halfway through the 2019 season in an effort to bolster the bullpen but that has not gone as planned. Throughout his career with the Cubs, Kimbrel has made a total of 41 appearances and owns a 6.00 ERA and 1.528 WHIP. Those numbers are not ideal, and the only way he could have trade value is if teams hone in on his most recent appearances.

While Kimbrel struggled in the beginning of 2020, he had a stellar end to the season. Across his final 14 appearances, the right-hander posted a 1.42 ERA and fixed his mechanics so he was able to strike out more batters. If Theo Epstein and the front office decide to keep core players, Kimbrel will probably stay. However, if a rebuild begins this offseason, the closer could easily be one of the first players to go. At the end of the day, a contending team could use a big arm like Kimbrel in the bullpen, but the his contract is a weight for the team right now.

Yes, this offseason remains a mystery. But with financials looking bleaker by the day, unloading Bryant and Kimbrel’s contracts would be a big step toward righting the ship for Tom Ricketts and the Cubs organization.