NEWSLETTER
We’re on Day Three of the virtual Winter Meetings, and although there has been a decent volume of rumors and moves – relative to expectations for the event not quite being an event this year – there hasn’t been much in the way of anything connected to the Chicago Cubs. Well, a new third base coach. But that’s it.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be movement or rumors this week, but I thought it a useful pausing point to remind folks of what the Cubs’ offseason has looked like so far in terms of notable movement from the 2020 roster.
That is to say, the Cubs have added a waiver claim in Robert Stock and a whole bunch of interesting minor league signings. But that’s it.
And the Cubs have lost, among others …
Jon Lester
Tyler Chatwood
Jose Quintana
Jeremy Jeffress
Ryan Tepera
Kyle Schwarber
Albert Almora
Jason Kipnis
Theo Epstein
and Len Kasper (eh, it kinda counts).
The Cubs won the NL Central in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and did it despite some atrocious performances from some really important players. But when you consider only the organic infusions expected on the roster – a full season of Adbert Alzolay, maybe some additional young arms in the bullpen, zero realistic arrivals on the positional side – it’s impossible right now to say the Cubs aren’t significantly worse on paper for 2021 than they were in 2020.
That doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way, of course, as the Cubs are going to have to make some additions in the outfield and in the rotation, at a minimum. But if the Cubs are aiming to simultaneously improve for the long-term and at least tread water for 2021 in a very winnable NL Central, they haven’t done anything on either account just yet. It’s just been subtraction.
Thus begins Winter Meetings Day Three.
