Archive - 2017

In the absence of any significant Cubs news over the past week (we apparently signed a AAA depth reliever), I instead prepared a brief tribute to an unsung hero of the Cubs rebuild: Crane Kenney, President of Business Operations.

Selling the naming Rights to Wrigley Field would add $4.5m in payroll.  I provide this fact as a data point for any holiday discussions you find yourselves in.

The Associated Press (AP) confirmed today that the Cubs did not exceed the competitive balance tax cap in 2017. The AP obtained the final figures from the commissioner’s office. The Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, Tigers, and Nationals each exceeded the cap in 2017, the Nationals for the first time.

by Moshe W.

The Cubs could save $7m in luxury tax penalties by signing Kris Bryant now to a four-year contract covering his arbitration years.

12/14 UPDATE:

SELECTED BY CUBS IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE:  
NONE  

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE PHASE:
Pedro Araujo, RHP (selected by Baltimore Orioles from Cubs AAA Iowa reserve list) 

CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS SELECTED IN AAA PHASE: 
Andrew Ely, INF (selected by New York Mets for AAA Las Vegas affiliate from Cubs AA Tennessee reserve list) 
Chris Nunn, LHP (selected by Houston Astros for AAA Fresno affiliate from Cubs AA Tennessee reserve list)
Alberto Mineo, C (selected by Toronto Blue Jays for AAA Buffalo affiliate from Cubs AA Tennessee reserve list) 

PLAYERS SELECTED BY CUBS IN AAA PHASE: 
NONE 

by Moshe W.

Giancarlo Stanton was traded from the Florida Marlins to the Yankees. The move will cost him $32m because while Florida has no state income tax, New York city and state both do.

by Darrel Rade

According to a number of reliable and trusted sources, the Chicago Cubs will be seeing a familiar face back in uniform. It appears that Andre Dawson will be back on the Cubs payroll for the upcoming season, which is thrilling news for fans. The Hall of Famer has been working with the Marlins for the past few seasons as a special assistant. Dawson was fired from the Marlins and that decision was quickly rescinded. However, Dawson has made bigger and better plans and will be coming back to join the Cubs.