If Smith turns into a very good player and the Cubs don't sign Tucker to a long term extension, regardless of the season's outcome, this will go down as one of the worst trades in Cubs history.
They had to get special permission to offer Bregman a contract everyone knew he would reject. Maybe the clan (could also be spelled with a k) sits down with Jed around the ASB and says we have X amount to give you... but they already said they are at the top of their budget.
I think any money they spend is contingent on Jed talking Tommy Boy into taking on more salary and Tommy Boy and the sibs agreeing. I don't think a pot of money is sitting there.
It's hard to say that anything translates especially for cold weather teams. Jamo's first year with the Cubs I think he walked one guy in ST and had an ERA under 3. Then regular season hit and he was not good, not awful, but not good.
Prepare for your heart to be broken. That's about 1/6 of the total payroll the Ricketts plans to pay year over year.
Tommy Boy said multiple times he doesn't want to pay for past performance, so here we are.
I read a blurb that said Nico is just now starting to throw. If Shaw isn’t ready either due to injury it’s going to be a real struggle at the onset of the season.