Colin Rea is a poor signing, and a very bad sign

Jed can't even pretend to really try

Colin Rea is a poor signing, and a very bad sign
Brewers celebrate Colin Rea returning to the Cubs.

It’s obvious by now that the Cubs new strategy, one they’ve used in consecutive offseasons, is to throw the fans a bone with one solitary competent move that makes them look like they are really trying, and then to call it a day.

Two years ago they showed a shocking sense of urgency and smarts by firing their beloved, incompetent manager David Ross and replacing him with a very good manager in Craig Counsell.

This year they traded three players (one of whom might actually be good) to get a star player in Kyle Tucker.

In both cases, the moves energized the fan base and made everybody feel like the Cubs were tired of the mediocrity (or worse) that they have allowed to take over since the only World Series season any of us will ever see them have.

And, in both cases, the moves were followed up by nothing productive.

After getting Counsell the Cubs didn’t do squat until Cody Bellinger fell into their laps after spring training had already started.

After getting Tucker, nothing has happened, short of the Cubs sending Bellinger and his contract (which they immediately regretted giving him) to the Yankees, postage due.

Counsell, at least, is going to be around for several more years. But Tucker is a free agent after this season. Jed couldn’t even pretend to be committed to trying to work out a long-term deal to keep him around. And if you tried to delude yourself to the contrary in an effort to actually enjoy watching Tucker this season, the Cubs couldn’t even be bothered to make nice with him for two months.

What the fuck, Jed? If you’re going to just pretend to try to win, at least put some fucking effort into it.