Chicago Cubs: Here’s how the team can solve their money issues

The Chicago Cubs front office has made it clear that they don’t have any money to spend. Here’s how to solve their money issues.

It’s another frustrating season for Chicago Cubs fans.

As 2019 winds to a close, the Cubs head into the new year with essentially the same roster that they ended the past season with.

It’s not that it hasn’t been an eventful offseason otherwise. Baseball fans have already seen Scott Boras’s clients alone garner nearly $1 billion in deals.

Unfortunately, the Cubs and their front office have not been nearly as active or successful as many of the other clubs in baseball.

So far, the most exciting news for Cubs fans has been the team’s decision to non-tender troubled second baseman Addison Russell (not that we’re complaining about that).

The front office has gone on record numerous times to stress that they’re having “money issues.” Team chairman Tom Ricketts said the other day that the renovations to Wrigley Field ending up missing their budget by about 100%.

While it’s understandable that the team can’t just spend every dime they have, something isn’t adding up.

Aren’t they making any money off of the massive videoboards and advertisements that have infiltrated Wrigley Field?

On Wednesday, veteran infielder Eric Sogard signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for just $4.5 million. While it’s not that upsetting that Sogard signed with a division rival instead of the Cubs, it’s what we learned in him doing so.

Shortly after the signing, ESPN insider Jesse Rogers tweeted that the Cubs had pursued Sogard but “just can’t add $$ until they subtract.”

Stop. Please. Stop.

The Rickett’s refusal to spend is not a money shortage. It’s greediness and apathy towards the club’s performance and nothing else.

It’s not that the Cubs can’t pay more. It’s that they don’t want to.

It seems as if Cubs ownership would rather fill their pockets instead of the stands. But here’s the kicker…they’re doing it the wrong way.

If the Ricketts family and Cubs want more money in their pockets, the solution is quite simple.

Spend more money.

Yup. That’s it. That’s the ticket.

Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money.

This is absolutely one of those instances. Spending money to improve the team means increased ad value, more tickets sold, improved memorabilia sales, playoff money, and gosh knows how many tens of millions of dollars in revenue for winning a championship.

Heck, our family alone got enough championship gear from Santa Claus to cover Ian Happ‘s salary in 2019. (That’s a hyperbole, folks).

The Ricketts family purchased the Cubs in 2009 for $700 million. They were valued at $726 million in 2010.

Not even a decade later, the team sits at $3.1 billion in value. That’s over FOUR TIMES what they paid for the team and $2.4 billion in profit.

Even factoring in a renovation of $1 billion, the family has still made nearly $1.5 billion just in ten years. With that logic, they’ve made $150 million on average each year in the last decade.

And you’re telling me that the Cubs can’t afford a $4.5 million salary?

None of it adds up, both literally and figuratively. Combine the already-made profits with the money soon to begin flowing in from the team’s coveted TV deal and the Cubs can undoubtedly afford to add some more payroll.

It was recently announced that the average cost of Cubs season tickets will be dropping in 2019.

Perhaps we’re wrong, but it’s hard to believe that Cubs fans would rather save a few dollars in tickets than see their team win another World Series (or at least be competitive).

Next June, thousands of Cubs fans from throughout the country will make the trip to London to see the team take on the St. Louis Cardinals. No doubt, the team will make a pretty penny from that game as well.

Fans love this club so much that they’re willing to travel to the edge of the Western Hemisphere  to see them, but are then told that there’s no money to shell out.

It’s not fair that Cubs fans aren’t being rewarded for their loyalty and instead are being forced to settle for a sub-par team and front office that has clearly shown that they’re more concerned with money than solid performance.

It’s even more unfair that the team isn’t finding a way to make money.

Perhaps the Ricketts could get a loan from TD Ameritrade.