I suppose I could have titled it, Theo Epstein spoke openly about the possibility of signing a special player next offseason. Which even that some will take issue with, but it was nearly quoted from Theo himself. What we miss here is, both Theo and Jed Hoyer recently spoke about how the Yu Darvish contract may affect their future approach, but that they certainly are able to be a player in the 2019 free agent bonanza.
On The Score, Theo was asked about the team’s outlook in 2019 (yes we are putting the cart before the horses cause it’s fun to talk about), his reply was incredibly interesting.
“If you look at our needs, knock on wood if we can stay healthy and productive for the most part through our roster, everybody’s back and for the next few years,” Epstein said. “We shouldn’t have tremendous needs.
“But we have some work to do to make sure we’re in position to be able to pounce if a certain great fit or just the right special player happens to become available or somebody wants to be in Chicago and something becomes too good to turn down, too impactful or too good to deal would mean too much to the team, we just have to work hard to get in position to do that. Rosters are flexible, payrolls are flexible.”
Of course, we see a comment like this and immediately think of Bryce Harper. It seems for the better part of two years Bryce has been softly linked to the Cubs, either through gossip, reports, over-hyped blog posts such as this.
What I often tell people is to pay attention to the chatter that doesn’t go away. That talk that one, seems like it could work and two, just doesn’t seem to leave the rumor mills and three, tend to stand out from the other noise. It has been following those ideas which I believed the Cubs were signing Jon Lester, Jason Heyward, Brandon Morrow, and Yu Darvish. I am really starting to believe the Bryce Harper to the Cubs hype.
I know conversation like signing Bryce Harper immediately turns some Cubs fans off. “We’ve won a World Series without him!” is a mantra that we hear ad nauseum and will be commented 20 different times. But if you have an opportunity to add someone like Bryce Harper — YOU DO IT. Harper is securely planted in the top five players in baseball conversation. Heck, until a couple of injuries, Harper was in the conversation for who was the best in baseball.
Not only is he really freaking good, he fits into the Cubs mold. A guy that works and puts an incredible amount of pressure on a pitcher, doesn’t get himself out, makes the pitcher come at him, and makes that pitcher pay. He is a, dare I say it, generational talent. Power, average, speed… if a player like Harper wants to play for your team you create room for him, and I think that is exactly what Theo is talking about when he mentions rosters are flexible. As much of an Albert Almora or Kyle Schwarber guy I am, you would be foolish to take either over what Harper can bring to a team. If the question is between Harper or Heyward, I’m sorry Mr. Gold Glover, Harper is here.
If a player of Harper’s talent nearly hand-selects the Cubs next offseason – you become flexible and get the deal done.
