Although the Chicago Cubs have been among the most engaged teams in the league this offseason, most of their movements have occurred through trades.
They have signed Matthew Boyd and Carson Kelly, among others, in free agency; however, their more significant moves were obtaining Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros and offloading Cody Bellinger’s contract in a deal with the New York Yankees.
The club has the ability to invest in prominent free agents, but they have opted not to, a concept that the Los Angeles Dodgers would never grasp.
The Dodgers have acquired almost every significant free agent this offseason, and their spending frenzy has angered fans nationwide, with many saying they are damaging the game.
Although the significant deferrals due to a gap in the current CBA must be dealt with in the upcoming CBA, the spending in Los Angeles is not as much of an issue as the Cubs’ unwillingness to make changes.
“If you are a Cubs supporter feeling upset,” notes Zachary D. Rymer in a recent piece for Bleacher Report. “Hold on until you hear what owner Tom Ricketts mentioned at the team’s yearly convention.”
“I believe fans shouldn’t devote all their time worrying about which team has a bigger budget or their expenditures,” Ricketts stated during an interview with 670 The Score, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “It simply turns into an expansive story that diverts attention.” Apologies, Tom, but it’s not a ‘story’ that the Cubs are not investing sufficiently. When you compare those revenues to those expenses, it appears much more like a reality.
“Similar to the Red Sox, it’s the ideal moment for the Cubs to make a significant move.” They possess a distinct route to the summit of the NL Central following the acquisition of Kyle Tucker in a major trade, yet they require additional resources if they aim to compete with the Dodgers.
There are few notable free agents remaining in the market, so the opportunity for Chicago to have a significant impact in that area has passed this year.
It is yet unclear whether the club will extend their recently obtained superstar Kyle Tucker, who will demand a significant cost, and their choice regarding this issue will significantly indicate how the upcoming years will unfold.
Owner Tom Ricketts and Baseball Operations President Jed Hoyer have significant tasks ahead if they aim to remedy the harm done by their reluctance to spend, allowing the Dodgers to lavish cash on virtually anyone available.
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