by Kent Sterling
When Tom Ricketts bought the Cubs, he promised to change their image from “Lovable Losers,” and he’s done it. Now, they are “Losers.”
Through the first 10 weeks of the postseason, the Chicago Cubs have made exactly no strides toward an improved roster for the 2014 campaign.
Below is the complete list of transactions as reported by Major League Baseball. New blood on their way to Chicago include LHP Wesley Wright, catcher George Kottaras, OF Justin Ruggiano, and Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks with his not so gaudy 2-13 career record.
The positive is that because the roster is so putrid, losses are of no consequence. Goners include Marcos Mateo, Brian Bogusevic, Daniel Bard, Mat Gamel, and Chang-Yong Lim.
I’m looking forward to getting a look at the single game ticket prices that should reflect a lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen almost completely bereft of quality big league talent.
I forgot to include the excitement that will surely surround Rick Renteria’s first season as a big league manager.
Here’s the litany of moves for which Cubs President Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer get paid huge money to execute. Glance through this before committing your cash to purchase a season ticket package:
| 10/01/13 | Chicago Cubs activated C Welington Castillo from the 15-day disabled list. |
| 10/03/13 | Chicago Cubs claimed 1B Mat Gamel off waivers from Milwaukee Brewers. |
| 10/09/13 | Chicago Cubs sent C J.C. Boscan outright to Iowa Cubs. |
| Chicago Cubs sent RHP Rafael Dolis outright to Iowa Cubs. | |
| Chicago Cubs sent LF Darnell McDonald outright to Iowa Cubs. | |
| Chicago Cubs sent RHP Trey McNutt outright to Iowa Cubs. | |
| Chicago Cubs sent LF Thomas Neal outright to Iowa Cubs. | |
| Chicago Cubs sent RHP Zach Putnam outright to Iowa Cubs. | |
| 10/02/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent C Daniel Canela to a minor league contract. |
| 10/31/13 | Chicago Cubs activated RHP Matt Guerrier from the 60-day disabled list. |
| 11/04/13 | Chicago Cubs activated RHP Kyuji Fujikawa from the 60-day disabled list. |
| Chicago Cubs activated 1B Mat Gamel from the 60-day disabled list. | |
| Chicago Cubs activated RHP Arodys Vizcaino from the 60-day disabled list. | |
| 11/11/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RF Aaron Cunningham to a minor league contract. |
| Chicago Cubs signed free agent SS Walter Ibarra to a minor league contract. | |
| 11/12/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent C Eli Whiteside to a minor league contract. |
| 11/20/13 | Chicago Cubs selected the contract of 2B Arismendy Alcantara from Tennessee Smokies. |
| Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Dallas Beeler from Tennessee Smokies. | |
| 11/19/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent 2B Chris Valaika to a minor league contract. |
| 11/20/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LF Casper Wells to a minor league contract. |
| 11/19/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Carlos Pimentel to a minor league contract. |
| 11/20/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LHP Jeffry Antigua to a minor league contract. |
| 11/18/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Paolo Espino to a minor league contract. |
| 11/15/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent 2B Jeudy Valdez to a minor league contract. |
| 11/26/13 | Kansas City Royals traded C George Kottaras to Chicago Cubs for cash. |
| 11/22/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LF Darnell McDonald to a minor league contract. |
| 12/02/13 | RHP Daniel Bard elected free agency. |
| 1B Mat Gamel elected free agency. | |
| RHP Chang-Yong Lim elected free agency. | |
| 12/12/13 | Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Marcos Mateo off waivers from Chicago Cubs. |
| Chicago Cubs traded LF Brian Bogusevic to Miami Marlins for Justin Ruggiano. | |
| 12/13/13 | Chicago Cubs claimed Liam Hendriks off waivers from Minnesota Twins. |
| 12/16/13 | Chicago Cubs signed free agent LHP Wesley Wright. |
Theo Epstein Quote from October 1
“I can tell you, and you don’t have to take my word on it, outside the organization, outside the city, the story is the Cubs are coming fast and the Cubs are coming strong. That’s the reality. When you take a step back and assess the talent in the organization, that’s accurate.”
Thank God they find the money to sign Veras. Nothing like the castoff closer of the Astros to build hope and bump season ticket sales. The growth of the talent pool in the minors for the Cubs is the most effective media canard since Nixon was portrayed as a benevolent and moral leader.