How desperate is Cubs president Theo Epstein to bring a world championship to Chicago? Apparently not desperate enough to mortgage the future.
Speaking to CSNChicago.com, Epstein said he’s focused on maintaining winning teams year after year rather than building a ‘super team’ to win right now.
“You can’t count on building a super-team and that will translate to winning the World Series,” Epstein said. “The best way to do it is have really good teams year after year, get in year after year. And eventually you’ll win it.”
With young pieces like Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber making a fraction of what they’re worth, the Cubs have the flexibility to add a big-name free agent or two this offseason.
Imagine adding David Price or Zack Greinke to a starting rotation that already includes Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.
The chance to add that type of talent to a team that won 97 games this past season doesn’t come along very often. In fact, you could say it’s almost as rare as a Cubs World Series.
“It’s hard to argue that the next two years represent a great chance to sort of amass maybe the most talent onto a single roster that we can,” Epstein said, via CSN Chicago. “Because the young guys haven’t started to make a lot of money yet and (Jake) Arrieta’s locked in and (Jon) Lester’s pitching at the top of his game.
“One way to look at it is (this) might be the best opportunity to have the single most talented roster that you can. But things get a little more complicated as you move forward.”
The Cubs have been repeatedly tied to Price, who was with Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted Chicago would sign Price to a seven-year, $217 million deal.
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24 of the best photos from the Cubs’ postseason:
[FBTW]
