The Cubs more or less did the expected with their free agents. Notably, they exercised their options on Strop and Hamels. They declined their option on Kintzler, though, by some sort of odd contract arrangement, he got to stay on anyway by exercising his player option at half-price. I rather think the Cubs will decide to eat a sizable portion of that money just to get rid of him in a trade.
In the Hamels deal, they decided to unload Smyly to the Rangers. In a way, this was a clever trick on the Cubs part, as they managed to recover most of the cash they would have obtained from the Rangers had they bought out Hamels contract. Smyly was never going to fit into an already crowded rotation had the Cubs held on. He will help Texas if he is fully recovered.
Among other developments, it is reported the Cubs are not inclined to extend Joe Maddon in the off-season, though they have not closed the door on a renewal at the close of the 2019 season. You wonder whether Epstein's comments about evaluating performance as opposed to promise applied as well to Maddon. Maddon has been quite successful in his stint with the Cubs, losing twice in the NLCS and winning a championship. 2018, though, was a letdown, however, of major proportions. Personally, I am OK with Maddon, though his in-game management and bullpen decisions have cost the team wins and his relentless self-promotion is wearing a bit thin.
Another sphinx-like Epstein statement is also taking shape with respect to Addison Russell as it now appears they are having second thoughts about just dumping the guy if they ever had first thoughts on the matter. The Cubs, and most major league franchises, have never had a lot of qualms about employing bad actors and off the field jerks in general. With respect to the Cubs in the Epstein era, witness Chapman and Murphy, as well as their hushing up whatever bad things Castro was up to while with the team,
I've always liked Russell as a player, though it seems he has turned out to be a jerk off the field. Look for the Cubs to offer him a contract laden with rehabilitation incentives and promises on his part to reform.
