Chicago Cubs ready to blow the roster up enitrely

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly made the decision to completely change over their roster, making everyone available.

Despite winning the NL Central in 2020, the Chicago Cubs are at a crossroads. They not only have to rebuild their rotation due to departures in free agency, but there may be a mass exodus in the coming years. Anthony Rizzo is set to reach free agency after the 2021 season, while the likes of Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Kyle Schwarber are set to enter their final year of arbitration.

This leaves the Cubs in a difficult spot. They could keep the roster together for the coming year, hoping to take one last run at another World Series. Or, they could blow up the roster now, beginning what could be a long rebuilding process.

According to Buster Olney (subscription), the Cubs are taking the latter approach. Any veteran player on the roster, including Baez, can be had for the right offer as the Cubs are getting a jumpstart on their rebuild.

This course of action makes perfect sense. In placing Bryant, Baez, Schwarber, and others, on the trade block now, the Cubs could receive a better return. Any teams looking to make a deal would have two years of control, making those players all the more valuable to a contending team.

It will also be interesting to see if the Cubs look to move Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks. Both are under contract for three more seasons at affordable rates. Should both of those pitchers also be on the block, the Cubs could receive a solid return.

While this means that the Cubs window is about to close at the present, it also means that the rebuild may not take as long. If Chicago can get the right prospects back, they may be ready to contend once again in just a few years. Otherwise, a lengthy process has just begun.

The Chicago Cubs are ready to blow up their roster. The window of contention is set to close.