Last time Chicago Cubs rebuilt from the ground up, back in 2012, took four years – and in the end, it won them a World Series. This time, the front office has promised Cubs fans a much quicker process. They took the first step in fulfilling that commitment on Wednesday, signing a free agent Marcus Stroman to one three-year contract, worth $71 million.
Stroman, 30 years old, is one of the better pitchers available this year. In Chicago, he will join the Cubs mainstay Kyle Hendricks and new people Wade Miley in the 2022 rotation to be refurbished. They still have no trump card, in the literal sense of the word, but today’s spin is better than yesterday’s.
And just as much as voicing the Cubs’ expectations for their place in the larger baseball scene: The deal includes an opt-out after two seasons, a fact that will lead Cubs fans to believe a candidate is about to appear. Why spend so much in such a short time if you are not trying to win?
Baseball operations president Jed Hoyer stated he wants to be nimble and calculated as he builds “the next great Cubs team.” In that way, Stroman clearly fits Hoyer’s plan. He’s going to earn a good salary every year, but it’s not a really long-term commitment, especially if he opts out. Stroman earns an annual salary very similar to that of freelancers Robbie Ray and Kevin Gausman – but both signed five-year contracts. Stroman’s shorter deal keeps the Cubs flexible as they do minor rebuilding – or “retooling,” as Hoyer has preferred to call it since he tore the Band-Aid from the group that won him. and host a World Series in 2016.
With the stars Anthony Rizzo, Javy Baez, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber all over, Hoyer has a clean vehicle to work with. He still has a lot of holes to fill but has committed to doing it methodically. In other words, the Cubs won’t buy themselves a championship. This will be one player at a time. And Stroman is a very good place to start.
If Hoyer makes some other move – or a few young players take the next – and the team is competitive in the very near future, they will have a very good pitcher to lead them. Otherwise, Stroman’s deal would close pretty quickly and Hoyer could look for his next deal. The veteran right-hander gives the team more competitiveness than it ended last season while remaining financially free for years to come.
Behind Stroman, Hendricks and Miley, there are still question marks in the rotation. The Cubs will probably be aimed at young people like Adbert Alzolay, Justin Steele and Keegan Thompson with veterans Alec Mills. The additions probably won’t be enough to win the championship – or even get to the post-season – but it’s a start.
And the Cubs have players around the diamond who should keep improving. Second Warrior Nick Madrigal, obtained in Craig Kimbrel transactions with Chicago White Sox, is a contact person. Midfielder/midfielder too Nico Hoerner. Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel are good storylines in 2021, but the team still lacks star players with MVP certifications. Sign up for a shortstop Carlos Correa would be an even clearer signal that the Cubs are moving quickly, but there is no sign that they will dip too much into the free agent pool. Correa wants a big commitment, and the Cubs probably don’t want to make that right now.
Hoyer promises the organization will spend this season, so early deals for Miley and backup catchers Yan Gomes no surprise. But Stroman signals a larger outlay. He is the first player to sign a 3-year contract since Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood ahead of the 2018 season. That alone should be enough for fans to know that the Cubs want to compete again.
Much work remains to be done, but the move looks like an exact start to Hoyer’s plans – and the key point is the length of the contract. The Cubs have a good pitcher who will still allow them to continue working on their long-term goals.
Rank: B +
