Farm System

[Kid]

I think the Cubs' pockets should be deep enough to not worry about paying real money to lock up proven MLB producers when the time comes. If the club is contending then, that makes them a very attractive home for players. What's the value of being a starter for the Cubs when they're perennially competitive...or better still, champions?

 

I also think that having an overstocked farm says to agents that there are plenty of parts to shuffle around if someone gets greedy. I can see why the Royals might want to lock up a minor leaguer with a huge upside. I'm not sure a major market team that believes it's building to win and keep winning should.

 

I think that's kind of shortsighted, or at least not completely connected with reality.  I'm not talking about locking up Baez tomorrow.  I'm talking about potentially locking up Baez after 2015 or 2016.  Even so, that would probably be a deal that would only cover through his first year of free agency.

 

With Bryant, because Boras is his agent, the idea of "attractiveness" probably goes out the window.  Thanks to Boras, you have to assume that he will become a free agent, and that if somebody else offers $1 more than the Cubs, he'll take the $1.  Is it possible that there could be a different result?  Sure, but you have to assume that Boras will push him to get every dollar.