Comments on: Cubs Sign Edwin Jackson

By: pb&j

pb&j — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 21:38:13 +0000

Exactly. The cubs Minor league system is full of position player talent but they really lack upcoming pitching talent. This is a move to solidify the rotation in anticipation of that minor league talent’s arrival.

By: Dan O'Dowd

Dan O'Dowd — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 06:30:11 +0000

Lucky.

By: Dasein

Dasein — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:58:58 +0000

Kansas City gave up the Minor League Player of the Year to get Shields. The Cubs gave up money to get Jackson. Maybe it works out for KC, but there’s a very good chance they hamstrung their rebuilding efforts to make a Quixotic run at the playoffs. The Cubs didn’t mortgage the future to get Jackson.

Seriously, the way some people talk about the Cubs’ rebuilding efforts, it makes them sound like they’re the Tampa Bay Cubs.

The Cubs have a quite a bit of money. And when the Soriano, Zambrano, and whatever other bad contracts are up in a few years, they’ll have even more money. They will be fine.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:34:07 +0000

Contrary to the “bad-to-mediocre” argument above, I don’t think the signing has anything to do with trying to win a few more games this season. I actually view the E-Jax signing as a shrewd maneuver in the Cubs rebuilding process. As mentioned, the addition frees them up to deal Garza for prospects. E-Jax didn’t get a no-trade clause either.

My point is, rebuilding a team isn’t just about saving draft picks and dumping bad contracts on older players. It’s about adding value at any given opportunity (e.g. good contracts, even on players on the other side of 30) and later redistributing those assets in return for young talent.

By: Sleight of Hand Pro

Sleight of Hand Pro — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:26:12 +0000

no, it was just an underpay last season.

By: JayT

JayT — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:05:46 +0000

I really like this signing for the Cubs. This gives them an above average, and deep, starting rotation. As far as position players go, they have guys that are league average or better at every position but third and center. They have improved the bullpen some, though I’d like to see them add some more depth there. All together though, I think that they are in a good position to be an above .500 team. And if last year showed us anything, it’s that any decent team has a chance to sneak into the playoffs.

By: Mike Green

Mike Green — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:18:31 +0000

Good article. It does make sense that the rebuilding approach for a club like the Cubs ought to be different than the approach for the Rays.