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MLB Playoffs: What Did We Learn From the World Series?

By Greg Goldstein

Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards (6) celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards (6) celebrates after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cubs Are Going to be Good for Awhile

Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) celebrates on the field after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) celebrates on the field after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

When looking at this Cubs roster, it’s clear that Chicago Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein placed an emphasis on having veterans on the roster. The team signed a 35 year-old in Ben Zobrist to big money this past offseason. Epstein signed former Boston ace Jon Lester to a long-term deal before the 2015 season. Other veterans like David Ross, John Lackey, Jason Hammel and even Miguel Montero at times contributed to the club’s historic 2016 season. But make no mistake, Chicago is led by their young talent.

Outside of Zobrist and Dexter Fowler, no batter in game seven’s starting lineup was over the age of 27. Kris Bryant, the frontrunner of the National League Most Valuable Player, is just 24 years old. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is 27. Promising infielders Addison Russell and Javier Baez are 22 and 23 years old, respectively. Kyle Schwarber, who made an amazing return from injury in the World Series is also just 23 years of age. The list of young, talented position players really goes on and on. The starting rotation skews a little older, even though Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta are still currently in their primes. It also doesn’t look like Jon Lester will be slowing down anytime soon. There are also some promising young arms in the bullpen like Carl Edwards Jr., Hector Rondon and Mike Montgomery. The team also still has one of the best farm systems in the entire league even after trading away a ton of talent for Aroldis Chapman.

What all of this youth means is that the Cubs have these talented players under team control for many seasons to come. The front office also has a willingness to take on big contracts so it seems realistic that Theo will lock up many of his best young players. He also has flexibility to trade some of his top minor leaguers to fill future holes in the starting rotation or bullpen because so many of his better younger position players are blocked for the near future.

All of this cheap talent and long-term flexibility will make it difficult to knock the Cubs off of the short list of the dominant franchises in MLB. This roster is built for the short and long-term, which will certainly give them multiple chances to hoist the World Series trophy again.

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