The Cubs can do both, they can have the highest payroll and be able to spend what it takes to develop a good farm system. Look at the Dodgers, they've been better than the Cubs, have a high payroll, and still able to produce a productive farm w/out high picks. It's not an either/or type of situation, in the case of the Cubs it has been more of a case of neglect and moves/picks that didn't work out. The neglect comes from diminishing Latin America (until recently it appears) and nothing in the Pacific Rim (scouting professional Japanese Baseball is diff. than amateur scouting, IMO). You beat me to it. I don't see how buying players now, means we can't continue to develop our farm system. If nothing else it will prevent us from having to call up slightly above avg. prospects with great tools hoping to hit the lottery. This team doesn't seem to do a very good job in setting up prospects to succeed on the major league level. I never said we should not develop the farm system. In fact we should, but every player in the Farm System will not play in Wrigley 81 times a year or even have a cup of coffee in the Majors. In the Cubs organization as with other Major markets our development of players in the minors helps us more with getting proven commodities through trades. This should allow us to wait on guys the Cubs believe are the next big thing and not rush them to Chicago. While small market teams are trading away there proven commodities because they can't afford them. This principle also goes for top tier FA's.