This off-season should be one of the most interesting in recent Cubs history. They are in need of a General Manager and the understanding is that the position will be filled by late October/early November. There are some interesting reports as to the potential candidates for the job. The media has tossed out names like Cashman, Epstein, and Andrew Friedman.
Even the esteemed Buster Olney has claimed the Chicago Cub General Manager position to be the Crown Jewel; the best, most attractive opening in baseball in the last ten years. As an unabashed, lifelong Cubs fan – my Cub flag waving, “Go Cubs Go” Singing, Andre Dawson Salam Genuflecting self has to say “Huh?”
The only upside I see to Cashman or Epstein or any other top GM coming over here is they have a chance to be THE GUY (or in Epstein’s case THE GUY – THE SEQUEL) in baseball history. While that is alluring, it hasn’t been done in 104 years. Hasn’t been done in triple digits. Other than that, at this point, where is the attraction?
You have Soriano ($18 million) on the books until he’s seventy. The Cubs haven’t formally agreed to eat and dispose of Zambrano’s $18 million contract. You have an owner that has said that while he will commit the same amount of operational dollars to the organization, the money will be restructured. So instead of having $140 million go to the major league payroll, they may only spend $110 million on the major league payroll with the extra $30 million being redirected to scouting, farm team development and/or Pacific Rim or Latin America development. All this, by the way, is a really intelligent way to run a business. However if you’re trying to attract a top GM who may not be willing to wait three or four years to see playoff/World Series results, it may be a hard sell. The Cubs are not in a “Win Now” mode.
Additionally, money is going to be spent on Hendry to pay him for next year. Most likely money will be spent on Quade to have him sit around (unless he accepts another position within the organization) AND money will be spent on a new manager, unless for some reason the new GM agrees to keep Quade on for next year while they wait for Zambrano and Ramirez’s contracts to expire and then in 2013 go forward with available money and a new manager. So that’s more dollars that won’t be going to on-the-field payroll.
Add to that a minor league system that sports Brett Jackson and the still young Josh Vitters and that’s about it. This year being a washout we had the opportunity to see what Bryan LaHair, Tony Compana and Tyler Colvin could do, but instead we have a healthy view of the capabilities of the late Kosuke Fukudome, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano. There are some additional interesting pieces (Matt Szczur, Chris Carpenter, Trey McNutt and Jay Jackson), but not the overwhelming amount of talent that would make a top line GM salivate.
God knows I’ve never run a major league franchise and from looking at the CFCL standings for the past decade, I don’t know how to run a fantasy team either. Aside from the allure of being the guy that puts all the curses to bed and being able to work in the greatest city in the world, I don’t see what makes the Chicago Cubs GM position all that attractive for the proven GMs. That being said, Mr. Ricketts, if you can’t lure Cashman, Epstein, et. al. know that my hat is in the ring. Twenty-eight year General Manager experience; two more championships during that time than the Cubs have managed; an eye for acquiring talented youth (Castro, Heyward, Brown, Stanton) and, yes, I have plenty of experience and talent to make a bad trade (Andrew McCutchen). Call me, Tom. We’ll do lunch.
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