At least in Arizona. Here, in Chicago, not so good.
As far as Cubs news goes, not so good either. Actually, this spring training so far has not provided the usual happy talk stories we have come to expect. A shame really, as these typical stories, which I have on occasion summarized on this blog before they actually occurred, did provide some respite from the cold winter season.
Perhaps the lack of happy talk is a function of the lack of activity the Cubs manifested in the off-season. The scorecard so far: a middle of the road closer (Veras), several third-rate backup catchers (Kottaras & co.), an OK left-handed specialist (Wright), two "starter" rehab projects likely to be traded if they win more than five games before the All-Star break (Hammel and MacDonald), a right -handed hitting journeyman outfielder (Ruggiano). Not much to write home about, eh?
Epstein does assure us, however, we are on the right track, but, of course, it's not an easy track. And, of course, there's plenty of money in the kitty just in case a difference-maker comes along we can pick up cheap or there happens, by some wild stretch of the imagination, to be a difference to be made this season or next.
People still seem to have faith in Epstein & co., although there are signs it is beginning to wane ever so slightly. Still, everybody seems to be up in arms about how Jeff Samardzija is showing just what a little money-grubber he is by not signing a low-ball extension. If there is any team more ruthless than the Cubs are now in terms of loyalty and the strict monetary valuation of their assets, I'd like to know about it.
In any case, here's the scorecard on Epstein/Hoyer. They do seem to have some legitimate prospects in the minor league system. Most, if not all, of the hottest properties were acquired through the draft or international signings. As to the trades, the Cubs have traded off more middle of the rotation pitchers than you can count, plus a first-class relief pitcher (Marshall), plus a couple of major league outfielders with declining skills (Soriano and DeJesus).
In return, they have brought in a bunch of minor league prospects who were not at the top of their former team's prospect list, along with several guys who might be major league talents if they ever recover from serious injuries. There are only four players on the roster acquired via trades: Ruggiano, Wood, Strop, and Rizzo. The only unequivocal plus trade was Marshall for Wood.
You wonder what sort of sense some of the evaluations the front office makes other than monetary ones. The Cubs have by and large passed on mid-rotation starters like Jimenez and Garza. These guys generally will command contracts in the neighborhood of $50MM and four years. Players like them are a bit of a crap-shoot, but they can really help a team. The Cubs actually traded Garza to the Rangers. He signed this off-season with the Brewers for, essentially, the same deal the Cubs gave Jackson last year.
Instead, the Cubs have gone for real rehab projects or back of the rotation pitchers like Maholm and Feldman and so on, whom they propmptly flipped at the trade deadline. But, unaccountably, they signed the decidedly inferior Jackson to a similar deal and seem disinclined to make the same offer to Samardzija. There is some kind of logic here, but it escapes me right now.
Oh, well, the season is just around the corner. They cannot get any worse than they have been the last four years, can they? Don't answer that question now, OK?
