{"id":403112,"date":"2021-08-23T10:09:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T15:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=403112"},"modified":"2021-08-27T13:00:30","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T18:00:30","slug":"how-can-we-fix-the-chicago-cubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/how-can-we-fix-the-chicago-cubs\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can We Fix the Chicago Cubs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A whimper. That\u2019s how the Chicago Cubs dynasty or near dynasty of the 2010\u2019s ended. The trading of franchise icons Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and closer Craig Kimbrel signaled the end of one of the most dominant runs in recent memory. A run that included 505 wins from 2015 to 2020, 5 playoff berths, 3 division titles and 1 World Series victory in 2016. If you have been paying attention to the news about the Cubs, the fans are <\/span>about to enter a dark time, possibly darker than the years prior to 2015 but there\u2019s a way forward and it requires us to be<\/span>\u00a0brutally honest at all aspects of the team; the ownership, the front office, the players and the fans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stop Sinking Money into Wrigleyville<\/h2>\n

Since the Ricketts family purchased the team in 2009, they have been committed to not only rebuilding the team but rebuilding Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood. The field additions came first with a new video board for games and more prominent sponsorship signs as well as a completely revamped clubhouse that makes my apartment look like a broom closet. Wrigleyville also got a major facelift as well with the addition of a merchandise store, corporate team offices, a luxury hotel across the street from the ball park and recently, plans for a sports book were approved to be built adjacent to Wrigley Field<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While these additions have been much needed for a long time, it has also directed capital away from the team and really prohibited the team from signing long term contracts for their beloved players. It\u2019s not a coincidence that everyone traded at the July 31<\/span>st<\/span> deadline was a pending free agent. Contract talks for Rizzo stalled out before spring training, Kris Bryant seemed to be an annual victim of arbitration meetings, Baez was going to command a $200 million contract and Kimbrel was likely going to walk anyway after finally figuring out his command into an All Star season for 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Realistically though, given how MLB contracts have ballooned over the past 20 years, did we all really expect the Cubs to be able to resign all of their big contributors? Rizzo was going to be 33 years old next season and coming to the end of a 7 year deal, Bryant possibly could\u2019ve been signed but his demands might have been too much for the team to acquiesce to considering he managed to command a high salary in arbitration and Baez might have happened but he\u2019s also frustratingly inconsistent. His defense has always been spectacular but he never met a fastball that he didn\u2019t want to hit.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jason Heyward (@jheylove22)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n