The Cubs spent ~$112 mil. this season. They have ~$107 mil. committed - exlcuding Wood, Miller, Izturis, Floyd, Cotts & Barrett. Ohman is under contract next season. So to add A-Rod, you'd need to find a way to add $25-$30 mil. next season or severely backload his contract. Assume for a moment that the new ownership increases payroll by 10%. That'd still leave you $9 mil -$13 mil. short. It's doubtful they could deal away that much in other contracts (anyone going to take JJ's full contract - even if he finishes well). Basically the Cubs would have to a) increase payroll 20%; b) get A Rod to take an under-market contract; or c) backload the heck out of the deal. None of those possibilities seems likely.