Recent print coverage in the Chicago market has bemoaned the departure of ace Yu DarvishChicago Sun-Times
Since the arrival of Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts and the ownership group in '09, the team has been on record about their "commitment to winning, creating a strong culture and being successful in business and baseball operations," but their most recent moves have been a "tough pill for fans to swallow," according to Russell Dorsey of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. The Cubs should be a big-market team "based on their city, fan base and resources" compared to other MLB teams, but the trade of P Yu Darvish to the Padres, which became official late Tuesday, and "other moves -- or lack thereof -- in the last three seasons don’t resemble those of a big-market team." The Cubs have "done little in the free-agent market" and have had to "rely on minor-league deals, waiver claims and other creative strategies to bring in players." They have been among the top five in payroll in each of the last three seasons, only to have "disappointing finishes in the playoffs." The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economics "have been evident" around MLB, with many teams "following the same path as the Cubs." Sources said that getting below the salary cap "was a priority for the Cubs this offseason." Dorsey: "But if the Cubs truly hold themselves to the standard of being a big-market team, they need to be committed to that. Not just sometimes or during the good times but all the time" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/30).
