The Chicago Cubs are at an awkward spot, they are seemingly fading away for a second straight season. Their future seems brittle considering the money that is tied in unmovable assets. A Yu Darvish turnaround could make an immense difference in future of the Cubs.
The unmitigated euphoria of the Chicago Cubs winning a championship in 2016, with a fanbase that has been clamoring for such glory their entire lives, can put a significant emphasis on said title. However, when examined retrospectively, this team can seem a distant memory of a simpler time.
I will not say it is easy to win a championship- because it is indubitably not the case- however, winning the single as opposed to the plural is much more attainable. There is a reason that each team with a glut of young talent does not build a 90’s Yankeesesque dynasty. It takes an unfathomable amount of work and even more luck.
The Houston Astros have built one of the most dominant rotations in recent memory and it is still in doubt if they will reach their second World Series. The Yankees somehow manage to find an All-Star caliber player at each position, yet they have not played in the Fall Classic since 2009.
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Baseball is a bizarre game and teams will never remain identical on a year to year basis. Contracts begin to cause a roadblock, as it is nearly impossible to pay each and every one of their stars.
A team like the Chicago Cubs was able to discover and develop a number of star players, however, the supporting cast has not gone according to plan since their WS victory.
Kyle Schwarber has not lived up to the high-end potential he often displayed, the Cubs farm system dried up after trades that included Gleyber Torres, Dylan Cease, and Eloy Jimenez, and above all else, the free-agent strategy has gone askew.
The oddity of this predicament is that the exact issues that plagued Theo Epstein after his insurgent start with the Red Sox. Epstein seems to be an excellent baseball executive that can find talent. He can find success but has not proven that he can maintain it.
His track record shows that as the winning continues and important pieces go elsewhere the contracts continue to get more bloated. Jason Hayward has not been a wise investment and Jon Lester‘s deal in headed towards burdensome as he ages.
Despite this overwhelming negativity, Epstein has been able to find productivity as well. Nicholas Castellanos and Justin Wilson are examples of two acquisitions that have greatly benefited the Cubs over the past few seasons.
Another player that is seemingly directly in between these two worlds is Yu Darvish. The right-handed hurler seemingly was a complete loss of an asset, after a tough first season in 2018 and a rough start to 2019.
In his last 12 games, he has thrown over 73 innings, recorded 106 strikeouts, and held a more than respectable 2.70 ERA. Perhaps this is a swing of the pendulum back to Darvish’s favor, as he had some BABIP troubles to start the season.
It is most certainly not a stroke of luck. Darvish has experienced a plethora of MLB success before. Also, the batting average against- .194- and BABIP- .265- would indicate that his pitching has been effective and not just fortunate. Most of all, he looks composed on the mound, firing strikes, and incorporating his vast repertoire of pitches.
The importance of this situation is that Darvish renaissance changes the future outlook for him and the Cubs. This money can actually be put to good use and will not have to be made up elsewhere- as was the initial thought.
Keeping in mind the money difficulties, especially with the tragically awful start to Craig Kimbrel‘s Cubs career, Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer must put each dollar to good use. Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Anthony Rizzo will soon need new deals- all of them will not remain with this money on the books. Additionally, this Cubs team seems to be trending downward, as they are reliant upon a rental in Castellanos.
A revitalized Darvish can plug some of the holes, as one of the aforementioned players may inevitably be traded in hopes a big return that can shape the outlook in the North Side of Chicago.