2011 MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs Preparing for “Total Rebuild”

It was unknown what route new Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein would take when he took over the reins at Wrigley.  Would Epstein look to build around the meager talent the Cubs had on their roster, or instead look to blow things up completely?  According the David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com, Epstein and the rest of the Cubs front office appear to be taking the latter path.  Kaplan hears that the Cubs are ready to embark on a “complete and total rebuild” of the team.

The Chicago Cubs have been a franchise hovering around mediocrity for the past decade or so.  Chicago is coming off of back-to-back sub 80-win seasons, and though the club made the playoffs in 2007-08, the Cubs last won a postseason game in 2003.

One National League executive tells Kaplan that this perpetual state of average is due to the Cubs unwillingness to truly rebuild.  The executive told Kaplan that “the Cubs have never had the guts to completely blow up their roster and build it the right way”.  According to the executive, Chicago should look to build “sustained success” rather than “always trying to patchwork a roster for a surprising season”.

With many around baseball agreeing that the Cubs need a “full scale house cleaning”, it is believed that Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer are set to travel down the road of rebuilding.

The Sean Marshall trade may have been the first step in this process.  In exchange for Marshall, the Cubs have reportedly acquired young starting pitcher Travis Wood and a pair of minor leaguers from the Reds.

Kaplan’s sources tell him these are exactly the types of moves the Cubs need to be making in order to jumpstart their rebuilding process.  Chicago has several holes at the major league level, and their minor league system is weak.  Executives say Epstein and the Cubs should look to make “solid deals” in order to “reload in the minor leagues”.

Now that Marshall is gone, the Cubs are left with few other coveted trade chips.  Matt Garza could draw significant return, and will likely net the Cubs their most talented package of prospects.  Chicago could also look to deal closer Carlos Marmol and outfielder Marlon Byrd.  The Cubs also have several high-priced veterans that no longer seem to be worth their contracts in Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster.

As a result of the rebuild, sources are also telling Kaplan that the Cubs are not involved in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes.  Rather than aiming to contend next season, sources believe the Cubs will “try to move most of their valuable assets before spring training”.

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