Cubs have a tiny decision to make

Arbitration offers are due. Come on, Jed, throw us a friggin' bone.

Cubs have a tiny decision to make

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The Cubs have a league high 14 arbitration eligible players. Given President of Situational Positioning Jed Hoyer’s allusions to the fact that the Cubs aren’t likely to allow their payroll to go up, there’s no way they can offer abitration to all of these guys.

Then again, when you look at the list, there’s no way they should offer arbitration to most of them.

Actually, looking at the list right now, I’m not sure all of these are real guys.

What’s a Jimmy Herget? And I know we saw Trey Wingenter pitch for the Cubs, but I’m still not sure they didn’t just put a cap on a pitching machine. The results seem to back that up, too.

Anyway, the list of Cubs due to get raises through this collectively bargained process that owners piss and moan about constantly, even though it is greatly advantageous to the teams more than the players, does include some guys they probably actually need next year.

For instance, Justin Steele, despite being ten years removed from his draft day is somehow still eligible for arbitration THREE more times! He made four million bucks last year and will probably end up closer to seven million next, but either way, it’s a steal for the Cubs.

Former and current Cub and All-Star Isaac Paredes also has three years of arbitration left. He earned $3.4 million last year and he, too will probably end up being paid less than $7 million next season. That works out to about $2.3 million for every homer he hit for the Cubs in 52 games last year.

How bad was Isaac after the trade? He slugged .307 for the Cubs. If that seems bad, it is. But how about this? He slugged .140 at Wrigley Field. In 27 home games as a Cub he slashed .105/.177/.140. But it was probably just bad luck considering is BABIP was .125.

He should ask for a trade to the Twins. He slashed .444/.583/.778 at Target Field.