Cubs president Theo Epstein the architect behind baseball's newest juggernaut
I remember Theo Epstein wandering through the lobby at the 2012 general managers’ meetings in Indian Wells, Calif., looking uncomfortable, muttering something to the effect of, “I’m irrelevant.”
And I remember thinking, and maybe even replying, “Not for long.”
This was coming. We all knew it was coming. The Cubs were far from a quick fix, losing 101, 96 and 89 games in their first three seasons under Epstein as president of baseball operations and Jed Hoyer as GM. But the team reached the National League Championship Series last season, a year ahead of schedule. And now, goodness, Epstein is unleashing the monster.
First, right-hander John Lackey. Then, infielder Ben Zobrist. And on Friday afternoon, outfielder Jason Heyward for eight years, $184 million and two opt-out clauses, after either year three or year four if he exceeds certain plate-appearance thresholds, according to a major-league source.
Epstein and Hoyer also have added lesser pieces: right-handed swing man Adam Warren and infielder Brendan Ryan in a trade for second baseman Starlin Castro, right-hander Trevor Cahill and lefty reliever Rex Brothers. And the Cubs still figure to trade for another starting pitcher and perhaps find a center fielder who would allow Heyward to remain in right.
All these additions, to a team that won 97 games last season. Stunning. Just stunning.
Players are swayed by the allure of helping the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908 — Heyward, like Zobrist, had better financial offers from other clubs. The Nationals offered Heyward $200 million and the Cardinals also were believed to be at that number, according to major-league sources.
Epstein and Hoyer have something to sell — history, Wrigley, Chicago — and they sell it well. Manager Joe Maddon and left-hander Jon Lester enlisted in the Cubs’ crusade last offseason. And the momentum just keeps building.
Yet, as Epstein would be the first to attest, the winners of the winter are not always the winners of the summer. To further the point, free agency has not always been Epstein’s forte, as evidenced by his ill-fated investments in Carl Crawford and Daisuke Matsuzaka with the Red Sox and Edwin Jackson with the Cubs.
Hey, who knows how this will work out? Maybe Lackey finally will reach his expiration date in his age-37 season. Maybe Zobrist finally will enter his decline phase at 35. And maybe Heyward indeed will be everything his critics assert, a player who is not enough of an offensive threat for the money.
I stood with Epstein and Hoyer at this year’s general managers’ meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., relaying to them the frustration I was hearing from the agents of other free-agent hitters about Heyward being the prized position player in this year’s market.
Epstein sort of scoffed, saying something to the effect of, “it’s not 1970 anymore” — meaning, players today are valued for their defense and base-running more than they were in the past, not that Heyward is a subpar offensive performer.
To hear rival executives tell it, Epstein long had been fixated on Heyward, going back to the right fielder’s early years with the Braves. The attraction, once Heyward reached free agency, was not simply the player’s all-around game.
Do the math — the additions of both Heyward and Lackey were subtractions for the rival Cardinals. Do some more math — Heyward, at 26, is that rare player who hit free agency at the start of his prime.
The first opt-out clause will give Heyward a chance to re-enter the market at 29 — still in his prime. The contract is expected to be front-loaded, with the Cubs gladly paying a premium in the early years. If Heyward performs well and bolts, so be it. The Cubs might win a World Series by then.
Not bad, considering that Epstein and Hoyer are not yet operating at full financial strength; the team cannot secure a new TV deal until after the 2019 season. Management’s plan to load up on young hitters not only gave the Cubs an advantage at a time of diminishing offense, but also created the payroll flexibility for the combined $272 million commitment to Lackey, Zobrist and Heyward.
There is just one problem with it all, and it is not a small problem, considering the way the Cubs are developing into a powerhouse. One of their biggest stars is eligible for free agency at the end of this season, and he will not be inexpensive.
That star is Epstein, who will be in position to receive an even bigger contract than his current five-year, $18.5 million deal.
The Cubs will pay. They will happily pay. They are irrelevant no more.
