The ranking of the farm system is debatable, but even if we agree that it is a Top 10 system, it is much closer to 10 than it is to 1, and also doesn't stand out against any other minor league system in the NL Central. At best, the Cubs have reached a point where their system is on par with the rest of the division. I also don't see anything at the minor league level that is really going to change the trajectory of the Major League team over the next few years. So with a lack of high-level impact talent, how does this team make up ground to compete next year and beyond? I don't think they do. Barring a spending spree, my current thinking is the Cubs are going to be a middling team for the foreseeable future.