I agree with IMB, but it's always been that way. So that is nothing new. Wrigley traded Bill Madlock because he didn't want to give him a raise after he won the batting title. In 1977, eight year old me cried so hard when I found out. He was my favorite player.
Things were a lot different then they are now. They used to close the upper deck of Wrigley on week day games. It wasn't until cable TV and Harry that Wrigley became a destination.
I suppose I'm feeling my age more these days, but I don't like the Bears playing in a dome. At the same time, I don't like seeing any team play football in a dome. Besides with global warming, they might get adverse weather once or twice a season.
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.