The Chicago Cubs 2013 season has been a roller coaster ride. In terms of player development and transactions, the season has been a resounding success. Between the white lines of Wrigley, though, the season has been an abject failure.
Kris Bryant is not regarded as a once in a generation type player, but no one can question his superstar potential. Early indications are that the Cubs spent the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft on a player that will be part of the core for years to come. Whether he can stick at third base will be a topic of debate going forward, but he is regarded more for his prodigious power than his defense (which is still a plus). Pitching was a large proponent of the Cubs draft, as the Cubs added names like Rob Zastryzny, Trevor Clifton, Trey Masek, and more.
In the transaction department, the Cubs have added tremendously to an already borderline elite farm system. Selling high on Matt Garza, the Cubs gutted the Texas Rangers' farm. CJ Edwards is already being talked about as a top 3 pitching prospect in all of baseball (keeping in mind TNSTAAPP). Pitchers Neil Ramirez, Justin Grimm and third baseman Mike Olt look to be contributors around the time that the Cubs are competitive, as well.
Theo and Co. also added talent through the international pool, signing Eloy Jimenez and Gleyber Torres to deals. Both are only 17, and as such it will take several years to determine the overall success of their signings. If either can live up to their potential, though, the Cubs have added a cornerstone piece.
Transactions among veteran players were not such a resounding success. The off season addition of Scott Feldman resulted in the Cubs getting Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop from Baltimore. Far from a blockbuster deal, the swap looks like a buy-low sell-high deal for the Cubs. This was definitely among the more successful trades that the Cubs front office was able to work out.
Swapping Alfonso Soriano seemed at the time to be a resounding success. Fans were chomping at the bit for his huge contract to be shipped off to another club. Upon news breaking that he would be joining the Yankees, fans and players seemed to get Graduation Goggles. Players came out of the woodwork saying how much he meant to them. Fans finally admitted that, after several frustrating years, he really was a solid part of the team. In return for Soriano's services, the Cubs acquired Corey Black, a mid-level pitching prospect. Soriano has since posted a phenomenal 1.7 WAR in the two months since being with the Bronx Bombers. Not only that, but the Cubs are stuck paying most of his remaining salary.
Only two transaction grades are deserving of a negative grade. Sending David Dejesus to the Nationals made very little sense. Reports surfaced that Washington picked him up by mistake (whatever that means), though Dejesus was a valuable member of the Cubs outfield. Do the fans miss David or Kim Dejesus more? The other head scratching move involved the signing of the infamous Kevin Gregg, who has been quite the statistical anomaly. Not often are players so drastically better on the road than they are at home, but that is certainly the case with "Goggles". His struggles on the road outweighed his successes at home, and his post game flare up last week did not help his cause.
Transactional grade: B+. The added wealth of prospects, the most influential part of the season's transactions, are not guarantees to be successful, but they are a huge step in the right direction. With time, this grade could improve dramatically.
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