Cubs’ Cost-Effective Pieces Falling Into Place

The pieces are falling into place.

I say that of course with built-in trepidation, especially when it comes to paraphrasing the now-infamous Dave Wannstedt line.

However, it’s pretty undeniable that the Cubs’ plan is starting to unfold on your television all of a sudden.

With the recent arrivals of Arismendy Alcantara , Javier Baez, and now Jorge Soler, the lineup is finally being populated by players who you should see here for the long-haul.

The new narrative being pushed: Are the Cubs accelerating the plan and looking to compete next year?

I would kind of pump the brakes on that one. I do feel the Cubs could contend next year, but there will be some natural hiccups for most of the young players already here, not to mention the yet-to-be-called-up Kris Bryant.

The real beauty, however, is that these pieces that are falling into place are cost effective.

In addition to fielding a potential inexpensive line up, the Cubs have also built a low-overhead bullpen. The funds should now be there to add the impact rotation arms this outfit needs.

Theo Epstein admitted as much yesterday to Jesse Rogers, this rosy financial outlook will allow the Cubs to add the needed impact pitching from outside the organization.

“I think because we have so many young players that are going to be cost-controlled over the next several seasons, we have tremendous flexibility built into our roster as it is,” Epstein said on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. “We’ll be able to field a pretty good nucleus with a very low payroll associated with that.

“That in of itself — and some of the savings that we made over the last offseason, for example — will allow us the flexibility to be very aggressive if the right player or players present themselves to us.”

“I think you’ll see us add impact starting pitching from outside the organization. The major league starting pitching free-agent market is pretty good. The free-agent class is more pitching-rich than position player-rich this offseason. And, frankly, the class after that is even more impressive in the 2015-2016 offseason.”

Epstein’s plan was to build an organization that could sustain itself and rely upon a farm system to supply the talent.

The reality is that the plan will also allow for the front office to thrive even without the business side supplying the funds, for now.