Cubs News Update: Let’s Be Thankful, Cubs Free Agent Moves, Searching for a CBA Agreement

Photo of Jon Ferlise Jon FerliseNovember 25, 2016

As Cubs’ fans, we have so much to be thankful for this year. I wanted to take some time to acknowledge what’s been a fantastic year for me and it’s because all of you. I appreciate each and every one of you so very much. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to write about and so closely follow the Cubs on their magical journey this year. I look forward to writing for you for years to come and hopefully celebrating many more championships along the way.

I also wanted to share a few Thanksgiving wishes from the Cubs’ family that I thought you’d enjoy.

  • It’s been well advertised that the Cubs made two seasons worth of moves in the 2015 offseason with the additions of Ben Zobrist, John Lackey and Jason Heyward. Even though the hot stove season is upon us it’s highly unlikely we’ll see the Cubs make anything close to a big splash this offseason, particularly with the weak free agent class, high salaries being commanded and uncertainty regarding the status for a new CBA.
  • Given the massive bounty the Cubs paid by trading Gleyber Torres – who was recently named MVP of the Arizona Fall League – for Aroldis Chapman, I’d  much rather see the Cubs pay up for a player instead of trading away prospects. The Cubs still have a strong farm system, with Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ leading the way, and they arguably have time to develop their system given the youth of the major league team, but I’d hate to see them continue to trade away high-caliber prospects for rental players.
  • The owners and players agreeing on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement appears to be stuck on one major issue, the owners desire to implement an international draft. I’d like to believe that neither side is so fixed on their positions that they’re willing to push getting an agreement done beyond the December 1 deadline. There would be a lot of head shaking if there’s a lockout, particularly following what was largely seen as one of the best World Series in the history of the game.
  • While we’re hearing from a lot of pundits that a lockout in December wouldn’t necessarily do much harm if an agreement can be reached within short order, don’t fool yourself. The players and owners must not convince themselves that since there is still 2+ months until pitchers and catchers report to spring training that means they have a lot of time to figure things out. That type of thinking will not benefit the process. Both sides should be working diligently to get an agreement in place by next Thursday. Accepting a lockout is simply unacceptable.
Photo of Jon Ferlise Jon FerliseNovember 25, 2016
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