Chicago Cubs: Fans concerns about upcoming season make sense

The Chicago Cubs are less than two weeks away from the start of the season, and fans remain frustrated that the team’s roster leaves more questions than answers.

Spring Training has been fun for the Chicago Cubs, but it’s almost time to start the regular season. With only 10 days left before the Cubs’ Opening Day game, there are still a lot of concerns about their roster.

Fans were frustrated this summer while the team remained mostly dormant in terms of free agent moves or trades. After a bitter end to the 2018 season, Cubs executive Theo Epstein talked like sweeping changes were coming (Via NBCSN):

"I’ve never been part of something like this offensively and I never want to be again. We have to be an offensive force. We should be with the talent on our roster, but it’s probably time to stop evaluating this in terms of talent and start evaluating in terms of production."

There were big names on the free agent market like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, but the Cubs didn’t go after either player. One big name left on the free agent market is closer Craig Kimbrel. His quest for $100 million may come up short.

The Cubs are in need of some bullpen depth. While there are some solid relievers on the roster currently, injuries are mounting for the team’s pitching. Closer Brandon Morrow is out until early May (most likely) after offseason elbow surgery.

Pedro Strop, the man the Cubs tasked to replace Morrow last season, aggravated a hamstring injury in Spring Training. While he claims he’ll be ready for the first game of the season, it’s definitely not a guarantee.

At this point, Kimbrel may sign a one-year contract just to get on the field by the first game of the season, and go for his mega deal next offseason. If that’s the case, the Cubs should definitely be in on negotiations with the reliever.

However, it seems as if only two teams expressed real interest in Kimbrel. The Washington Nationals were in talks with Kimbrel that broke down, and the Atlanta Braves apparently reached out about signing him on Sunday.

Cubs fans have a right to be annoyed that the team isn’t even rumored on moves for a guy like Kimbrel. The Cubs had long been rumored as a free agent destination for Harper, but they never came close to a deal this summer.

What’s worse is Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts claiming that the team didn’t sign anyone because they “Don’t have [money] anymore“. While this may be true in terms of the money they’re willing to spend, it’s not true about the money the family could spend if they wanted.

A more valid reason to not sign any big free agents this summer would’ve been the harsh luxury tax penalties the team could’ve faced for remaining over the tax for multiple consecutive years.

The team would’ve lost money AND draft position because of the luxury tax penalties, and that may not have been worth the risk of signing a $300 million guy.

There’s hope that this penny-pinching may only be for one offseason as the team is set to be part of a massive TV deal with Sinclair Media. The deal will create a separate sports network, called “Marquee”, that will show all Cubs games.

This could be lucrative, but with the rise of streaming television, it’s more of a question mark. The Cubs do have a lot of talent on their roster, but there’s still cause for concern.

With teams like the Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds all getting better this offseason, it’s going to be a brutal fight for the NL Central crown. Here’s hoping the Cubs elite talent can come up bigger than they did last season.