The Chicago Cubs already made one splashy move this offseason with the hiring of manager Joe Maddon, but is there more splashy moved to be made or will the Cubs not be a major player in free agency?
Chicago Cubs fans are tired of being patient and want to accelerate the rebuilding effort taking place at Wrigley Field after a miserable last few years that has seen the Cubs in the basement of the National League Central and barely watchable for the better part of the last five-six years.
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After the Cubs hired Joe Maddon to be the team’s manager expectations were risen with the anticipation that the Cubs would be big players in the free agent market and the rumor mill continued to spread those assertions with the team linked to nearly every meaningful player on the market.
With Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, James Shields and Russell Martin among the names linked in connection to the Cubs, general manager Jed Hoyer cautioned fans not to expect a crazy spending spree this offseason where they stray from their plan.
This follows what the team has been preaching all along and they wouldn’t deviate from their plan and sign a player just for the sake of signing someone if it didn’t mesh with the front office’s long-term outlook for the franchise.
Cubs have been saying that all along. Maybe a name or two at most. Smaller ones just as likely.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) November 7, 2014
Now, the team does need to acquire a starting pitcher or two in the offseason and add some veteran leadership, at least a veteran presence, to a lineup that could include six regulars below the age of 26, including four rookies when Kris Bryant and Addison Russell are called up.
But for the ever-optimistic fans expecting the Cubs to sign two of the marquee pitchers and a catcher and some bullpen help will be disappointed to hear that the Cubs are not planning on going that route.
For more MLB coverage this offseason stay on FanSided.com to stay on top of the latest updates around the baseball world, including the latest free agent news and rumors, trade talk and injury updates.
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